“Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Night”: Ghosts and the Supernatural in Elizabethan England

How would you characterize or describe 2014 Canadian attitudes toward the supernatural?

Basics of the Era Late 1500s to early 1600s Late 1500s to early 1600s Queen Elizabeth I & King James I Queen Elizabeth I & King James I “Elizabethan” & “Jacobean” periods “Elizabethan” & “Jacobean” periods

Elizabethan Ghosts The Elizabethan Period saw an increased interest in ghosts - The play Hamlet features one of literature’s most famous ghosts. Elizabethans document a number of hauntings in their writings. A ghost is defined as the soul of a dead person who is said to appear to the living in bodily likeness at a place associated with his life. Ghosts are said to have died in terrible and violent circumstances.

In Elizabethan England, ghosts and the idea of them, was a common phenomenon. Many people wrote books on these strange happenings, that they couldn't really describe. In 1572 Lewes Lavater wrote "Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Nyght".

Evidence of the Elizabethan belief in the supernatural “That there happen straunge wonders and prognostications, and that sodeyn noises and cracks and suchlike, are hearde before the death of men, before battaile, and before some notable alterations and chaunges.” “That there happen straunge wonders and prognostications, and that sodeyn noises and cracks and suchlike, are hearde before the death of men, before battaile, and before some notable alterations and chaunges.” when men lye sicke of some deadly disease, there is some thing heard going on their chamber, when men lye sicke of some deadly disease, there is some thing heard going on their chamber,

“…[T]here are some great stirrings or noises heard. sometimes we thinke the house will fall on our heads, or that some massie and waightie thing falleth downe throughout all the house, rendering and making a disordered noise: and shortlie within fewe months after, we vnderstande that those things happened, the verysame houre that our friends departed in “…[T]here are some great stirrings or noises heard. sometimes we thinke the house will fall on our heads, or that some massie and waightie thing falleth downe throughout all the house, rendering and making a disordered noise: and shortlie within fewe months after, we vnderstande that those things happened, the verysame houre that our friends departed in Source: Lewes Lavater’s Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Nyght, 1572 Source: Lewes Lavater’s Of Ghostes and Spirites Walking by Nyght, 1572

Not Just for “Crazies”… Belief in supernatural is mainstream Belief in supernatural is mainstream King James I authored a scholarly text about ghosts King James I authored a scholarly text about ghosts Learned studies conducted using psychology, science and religion Learned studies conducted using psychology, science and religion Beliefs cross class and education boundaries Beliefs cross class and education boundaries

A King’s Approach to Ghosts: “We ought, not without greate cause, to suspecte all Spirites, and other apparitions.” “We ought, not without greate cause, to suspecte all Spirites, and other apparitions.” “Enter into no communication with suche spirites, neither aske them what thou must giue, or what thou must doo, or what shal happen hereafter. Aske them not who they are, or why they haue presented them selues to bee seene or hearde. For if they be good, they will lyke it well that thou wilte heare nothing but the woorde of God: but yf they be wicked, they wyll endeuour to deceyue thee with lying.” “Enter into no communication with suche spirites, neither aske them what thou must giue, or what thou must doo, or what shal happen hereafter. Aske them not who they are, or why they haue presented them selues to bee seene or hearde. For if they be good, they will lyke it well that thou wilte heare nothing but the woorde of God: but yf they be wicked, they wyll endeuour to deceyue thee with lying.”

Catholics on ghosts: Catholics on ghosts: “Ghosts are the spirits of the dearly departed returned from the grave for some unfinished business. They roam the earth looking for help from the living to release them. These spirits are trapped in purgatory until their business is complete. “ “Ghosts are the spirits of the dearly departed returned from the grave for some unfinished business. They roam the earth looking for help from the living to release them. These spirits are trapped in purgatory until their business is complete. “ Protestants on ghosts: Protestants on ghosts: “Ghosts are NOT the spirits of the dearly departed. They are demons/devils who merely LOOK LIKE those we once knew so they can mess with us. It’s best to stay away from ghosts. Never listen to what a ghost says.” “Ghosts are NOT the spirits of the dearly departed. They are demons/devils who merely LOOK LIKE those we once knew so they can mess with us. It’s best to stay away from ghosts. Never listen to what a ghost says.” An Era Divivded

Shakespeare & The Supernatural Shakespeare = populist playwright Shakespeare = populist playwright Shakespeare = aware of the “hot issues” of his time Shakespeare = aware of the “hot issues” of his time Appearance of the Ghost in Hamlet reflects the Protestant views of England through the characters' apprehension Appearance of the Ghost in Hamlet reflects the Protestant views of England through the characters' apprehension Reflects the Catholic views through the suggestion of unfinished business in the human world Reflects the Catholic views through the suggestion of unfinished business in the human world The Ghost serves to provide good reason for Hamlet's tragic flaw – his inaction The Ghost serves to provide good reason for Hamlet's tragic flaw – his inaction

Images of King Hamlet's Ghost The ghost of King Hamlet is designed to be spooky. Both Marcellus and Horatio speak of their terror. They talk of the "unsholsme night", "planets in rebellion", "whitches, powers and charms", and the "absence of God's grace".

Modern Society and Ghosts

Does the Catholic Church Still Believe in Ghosts? The Catholic Church absolutely does believe in a spiritual realm. This realm is inhabited by Angels and Demons, Our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The souls of those who have died are also part of this spiritual realm but are not allowed to contact living humans without the express permission of God.

There are tricks of the devil and his demons. Because it can sometimes be hard to tell if this is occurring -- the Church discourages such things as trying to contact the spirits of the dead.

Hamlet in Modern Media