Hamlet Characters

King Hamlet Father of Prince Hamlet;appears as ghost at castle ramparts and later in queen’s bedchamber demanding revenge for his murder
Prince Hamlet Prince of Denmark, son of the late King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude;has returned from school in Wittenberg
Queen Gertrude widow of King Hamlet, now married to King Claudius
King Claudius brother to King Hamlet;murdered King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear;current King of Denmark;marries Queen Gertrude
Ophelia Hamlet’s girlfriend, sister of Laertes, daughter of Polonius
Laertes brother of Ophelia, son of Polonius;plots with Claudius to kill Hamlet in rigged duel
Polonius father of Ophelia and Laertes;counsellor to King Claudius;spies on Hamlet for Claudius, thinks Hamlet is lovesick;while spying on Hamlet in queen’s bedchamber, hiding behind arras (tapestry) is killed by Hamlet
Reynaldo servant to Polonius, sent to spy on Laertes in Paris
Horatio Hamlet’s true friend and confidant;fellow student at Wittenberg
Voltemand ambassador sent to old Norway concerning worries that Prince Fortinbras may try to attack Denmark;
Cornelius ambassador sent to old Norway concerning worries that Prince Fortinbras may try to attack Denmark;
Rosencrantz friend of Hamlet who is sent along with Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet and then sent to escort Hamlet to England
Guildenstern friend of Hamlet who is sent along with Rosencrantz to spy on Hamlet and then sent to escort Hamlet to England
Osric foolish courtier at the Danish court, sent to invite Hamlet to duel with Laertes
Francisco, Bernardo, Marcellus Danish soldiers acting as night watchmen at Elsinore;first to see the Ghost of King Hamlet
Prince Fortinbras Prince of Norway;wants to avenge his father’s death and regain lands, but at old Norway’s command, accepts deal to invade Poland instead
Captain A captain in Fortinbras’s army getting passage through Denmark per agreement reached by old Norway;sent by Fortinbras to the court, happens to meet Hamlet
Players Actors who perform “The Murder of Gonzago,” which Hamlet calls “The Mousetrap” to Claudius; perform the dumbshow
King Fortinbras prior to action of play had been defeated and killed by King Hamlet and had lost lands of Norway to Denmark;father of Prince Fortinbras and brother to “old Norway”
September 9, 2019