Final answer:
The inability of Hamlet's mother to see the ghost signifies themes such as the opacity of truth and the subjectivity of experience, highlighting Hamlet's emotional isolation and the complex nature of his thoughts and actions. It reflects the intricate psychological and emotional landscape that Shakespeare aims to depict in the character of Hamlet, beyond simple dynamics of revenge and guilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance that Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, cannot see the ghost might suggest different interpretations within the play. One key aspect is that it aligns with themes related to the opacity of truth and the subjectivity of experience. The ghost's presence, visible only to Hamlet and not to his mother, accentuates Hamlet's isolation and the unique burden of his knowledge concerning his father's death and his mother's possible complicity. The fact that Gertrude does not perceive the ghost and that the nature of the ghost is ambiguous to other characters, like Horatio, who speculates it could be demonic, further complexifies the narrative and Hamlet's reliability as a character.
The ghost, which may symbolize the oppression of Catholics during Shakespeare's time, serves as a catalyst for Hamlet's thoughts and actions. However, since the ghost is invisible to others, particulary Gertrude, it perpetuates Hamlet's internal struggle and his quest for a revenge that aligns with his moral and emotional compass. Shakespeare used this device to explore the psychological dimensions of revenge, guilt, and madness. It also allows an exploration of Elizabethan attitudes towards the supernatural, such as ghosts and insanity.
Gertrude's inability to see the ghost can be considered an artistic choice by Shakespeare to articulate the inexpressible emotional state of Hamlet, which is too complex to be fully externalized or represented on stage. This further underscores his complicated feelings towards his mother that exceed mere disgust or hatred and cannot be simplified into a singular motive for drama, thus enhancing the play’s depth and intricacy.