In the same figure, like the King that's dead.
Act I, Scene 1
Context
Barnardo identifies the Ghost when it first appears to the group, noting that it resembles the deceased king in both shape and appearance.
Analysis
The preposition 'like' here does crucial work: the Ghost is not called 'the King' but only something resembling him. This single word holds open the gap between appearance and identity that will haunt the entire play—if the Ghost is only 'like' the King, then what is it really? The brevity of the sentence, especially following the longer descriptive lines before it, makes the recognition feel sudden and stark.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Shakespeare uses careful diction to keep the Ghost's true nature ambiguous from the start—calling it 'like' the King rather than naming it directly means every character (and the audience) must interpret what they see.