Hamlet - Atmosphere Of Mystery

In the first scene of the first act, Shakespeare creates an atmosphere of mystery via the setting, the suspenseful way he starts off the scene, and the questions he raises surrounding the ghost. The setting of the very first scene of the play exudes an air of suspense. It takes place in the dark, at midnight. Barnardo verifies this when he reports that it is “now struck twelve,” and advises Francisco to “get…to bed,” (…showed first 75 words of 628 total…

…showed last 75 words of 628 total…whether it is truly the late king’s spirit, bearing noble intentions, or a demon assuming the form of Hamlet’s father, with an evil aim. Thus, the appearance of the ghost creates more questions than answers, heightening an air of mystery. As a result, the setting, the style with which the beginning of the scene is written, and the questions raised in regards to the ghost allow Shakespeare to create a suspenseful, mysterious atmosphere.