“The Ghost in Hamlet.” Thomas Ridgeway Gould. Stanley Kubrick got it: there’s nothing spookier than a pair of undead children. The Ghosts of Richard’s Victims ( Richard III) Ultimately, this ghost doesn’t demonstrate enough initiative to be truly spooky. That said, the Spirit politely answers all the questions they ask it and promptly goes away when they command, after which the people who conjured it up are promptly arrested. We will make fast within a hallowed verge. That time best fits the work we have in hand. The time when screech owls cry and bandogs howl,Īnd spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves. The time of night when Troy was set on fire, Wizards know their times.ĭeep night, dark night, the silent of the night, Bolingbroke has some pretty spooky lines himself: This spirit is conjured by the wizard John Bolingbroke in Act 1, scene 4 of the play, to prophecy for the Duchess of Gloucester.

We’re not sure if this spirit counts as a ghost, but it’s definitely spooky.

The Fortune-Telling Spirit ( Henry VI, Part 2)Ī dark horse (nightmare?) candidate cracks the top five.

But in general, he sounds like he’s dropping by to remind Brutus about a lunch meeting they scheduled: “And, don’t forget we have that meeting at Philippi.” In his brief Act 4 visit with Brutus, he gets off one good line (“Thy evil spirit, Brutus.” Chills!). The Ghost of Julius Caesar ( Julius Caesar)Ĭaesar’s ghost is one of the iconic Shakespearean spirits, but he’s far from being the Bard’s spookiest. “Julius Caesar, IV, 3, The Ghost of Caesar with Brutus.” Alexandre Bida.

Spooky stage plays