King Hamlet is a character from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. He is the deceased father of the protagonist, Prince Hamlet, and his ghost appears early in the story to reveal the truth about his death. King Hamlet was the former king of Denmark and is central to the play's themes of revenge and moral corruption. In the narrative, King Hamlet's death is shrouded in mystery, as he was reportedly murdered by his brother, Claudius, who then took the throne and married Gertrude, King Hamlet's widow. The ghost's revelation sets off a chain of events that drives the plot and leads to the exploration of themes such as betrayal and justice.