He is loosely based on a legendary Jutish chieftain named Horwendill, who appears in Chronicon Lethrense and in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum.

Francisco, whom Bernardo relieves on guard duty says, "For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold,/And I am sick at heart.

He tells the young Hamlet that he was poisoned and murdered by his brother, Claudius, the new King of Denmark, and asks the prince to avenge his death.

He also expresses disgust at his wife, Gertrude, for marrying Claudius, but warns Hamlet not to confront her, but to leave that to Heaven.

Claudius' reaction is one of guilt and horror, and Prince Hamlet is convinced that the Ghost is, in fact, his father.

In the third appearance, Hamlet is confronted by the Ghost in his mother's closet, and is rebuked for not carrying out his revenge and for disobeying his instruction by talking to Gertrude.

[1][2] Modern actors who have portrayed the Ghost include Laurence Olivier,[8] Paul Scofield,[9] Patrick Stewart,[10] Brian Blessed[11][10] and Irrfan Khan.