What does the ghost reveal that Claudius murdered Hamlet's father?

Answer 1

Act 1, scene 5

Ghost: "I find the apt;

And duller shoulst thou be than the fat weed

That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,

Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:

'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark

Is by a forged process of my death

Rankly abused; but know, thou noble youth,

The serpent that did sting thy father's life

Now wears his crown."

Hamlet: "O my prophetic soul!

My uncle?"

This is meaning that Claudius is the "serpent" who murdered King Hamlet. Ironic isn't it, Claudius is King Hamlet's brother.

Answer 2

Hamlet arranges for a group of travelling players to perform a play closely resembling the murder of Hamlet's father, which he has tweaked to make it even more like his father's murder. "I have heard that guilty creatures, sitting at a play have by the very cunning of the scene have been struck so to the soul that presently they proclaim their malefactions, for murder though it have no tongue, will speak with most miraculous organ. I'll have these players play something like the murder of my father before the king; I'll observe his looks; I'll tent him to the quick; if he but blench I know my course."

The players do perform the play, but in the middle of it Claudius rises and leaves, very upset. Hamlet is confirmed in his suspicions. "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound."

Answer 3

The entire purpose of the ghost's visitation is to reveal to Hamlet that his uncle murdered his father. "If thou didst ever thy dear father love, revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." Later on, he reveals who the murderer is. "But know, most noble youth, that the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown" Hamlet gets it. "O my prophetic soul! My uncle!"

Answer 4

"The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown." (Act I, scene V, lines 44 - 45)

And Hamlet says, "My prophetic soul! My uncle!"

Answer 5

"O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon it: a brother's murder."

Found Act III Scene III Lines 36-38

Answer 6

"Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. It has the primal eldest curse upon it--a brother's murder."