The Ghost's Message:
* Claudius murdered King Hamlet: The ghost reveals that his brother, Claudius, poisoned him to seize the throne and marry Gertrude, Hamlet's mother.
* Hamlet must avenge his father: The ghost urges Hamlet to seek revenge, but not to harm Gertrude, who is innocent of the crime.
Hamlet's Reaction:
* Grief and shock: Hamlet is deeply shaken by the revelation. He experiences intense grief over his father's death, and he is shocked by the betrayal and incestuous nature of Claudius's actions.
* Indecision and doubt: Hamlet grapples with the moral implications of taking revenge. He questions whether the ghost is truly his father or a demon, and he worries about the consequences of acting rashly.
* Feigned madness: Hamlet decides to pretend to be mad to hide his true intentions from Claudius and to further probe the truth.
Consequences:
* Hamlet's behavior changes: He becomes withdrawn, erratic, and seemingly insane. This behavior draws attention from Claudius, who fears Hamlet knows the truth.
* Polonius and Ophelia: Hamlet's erratic behavior impacts others. Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, suspects Hamlet's madness is due to Ophelia, his daughter, whom Hamlet had previously shown affection for. This leads to Ophelia's decline and tragic demise.
* Claudius's suspicion: Claudius becomes increasingly suspicious of Hamlet and begins to take steps to protect himself. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's friends, to spy on him.
The Ghost's message sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to tragedy. It sets Hamlet on a path of revenge, but it also creates a web of deception, suspicion, and ultimately, destruction.