Hamlet 1.5 Allusion: Lazarus

The transcript discusses a strange skin disease that afflicts a king, likening it to the biblical character Lazarus, who suffered from sores. This comparison is drawn from a parable in the Gospel of Luke, where Lazarus, a beggar, is rewarded in paradise while a neglectful rich man suffers in hell. The ghost in the story uses this analogy to describe the effects of poison, and Shakespeare adds a layer of divine justice, suggesting themes of rewards and punishments, reinforcing the ghost's return from purgatory.

What does the comparison of the ghost's poison to Lazarus's sores imply about his fate?

Discuss the role of purgatory in the ghost's narrative as mentioned in the text.