HAMLET CHARACTERS
Bernardo
Bernardo is a security guard at a place called Elsinore. While he’s on duty with his colleague Marcellus, he spots the ghost of Hamlet’s father, who was the old King Hamlet. He tells about this incident to Horatio, who is a friend of Hamlet. After hearing this, Horatio decides to join Bernardo and Marcellus for the night shift.
Claudius
Claudius is the brother of the old King Hamlet and the uncle of Prince Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, he has secretly killed his brother, married his brother’s wife, and become the king of Denmark. Claudius starts to worry that Hamlet has found out about his crime and is planning to take revenge for King Hamlet’s murder by killing him. So, he plans to kill Hamlet. Even though Claudius doesn’t regret his actions and doesn’t want to give up the benefits he got from his crime, he is troubled by a guilty conscience.
First Clown
While digging Ophelia’s grave, the First Clown is singing and cracking dark jokes about death. Hamlet comes across him and is surprised by his cheerful attitude. Hamlet asks whose grave is being dug and starts thinking about life and death as he holds what the First Clown says is the skull of Yorick, who was the jester of Hamlet’s father.
Second Clown
The Second Clown basically acts as the serious character in contrast to the funny First Clown while they are digging a grave for Ophelia.
Fortinbras
Fortinbras is the prince of Norway. His father was defeated and killed by King Hamlet in a battle many years ago. He wants to fight against Denmark to take back the lands his father lost in that battle. Claudius convinces Fortinbras’s uncle, who is the king of Norway, to control Fortinbras’s actions towards Denmark. In return, Claudius allows Fortinbras to lead his army through Denmark to wage war against Poland. At the end of the play, when Hamlet and Claudius are no more, Fortinbras becomes the king of Denmark.
Francisco
Francisco is shown in the first scene as one of the guards who keep watch every night on the fort walls at a place called Elsinore.
Gertrude
Gertrude is the queen of Denmark, the widow of the old King Hamlet, and the mother of Hamlet. Claudius marries Gertrude two months after the death of her first husband. She dies during a sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes. She insists on drinking from a cup that was meant for Hamlet, not knowing that the wine in the cup is poisoned.
Ghost
The Ghost is the spirit of King Hamlet. King Hamlet is destined to roam during the night for a certain period because he was killed in his sleep without getting a chance to repent for his sins. He tells his son, Hamlet, that his brother Claudius is the one who killed him. He orders Hamlet to take revenge for his murder by killing Claudius. He also tells Hamlet to spare Gertrude and leave her to face divine justice and the guilt that will torment her.
Guildenstern
Guildenstern is an old schoolmate of Hamlet. He and his friend Rosencrantz are called by Claudius to Denmark to keep an eye on Hamlet. Their job is to find out what’s bothering Hamlet and report back to the king. Hamlet doubts their honesty. When Claudius sends them with Hamlet to England, carrying orders for the English king to kill Hamlet, Hamlet finds out about the plan. He changes the order to have their names instead of his, and as a result, they are executed later.
Hamlet
Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is the son of King Hamlet and the nephew of Claudius. After the ghost of King Hamlet tells him that he was murdered by Claudius and asks Hamlet to avenge his death, Hamlet becomes determined to find out if the ghost was telling the truth or trying to trick him into committing a sin. To do this, he decides to pretend to be mad and also to stage a play that mirrors his father’s murder, called The Murder of Gonzago, to see how Claudius reacts. In response to his dead father’s request, Hamlet starts to deeply think about life, death, responsibility, and destiny. Instead of being a typical action hero, Hamlet is a character who reflects and contemplates philosophically. He is fatally injured during a fixed fencing match with Laertes that Claudius has arranged, but not before he kills Laertes with the poisoned sword that was secretly prepared for him. He also stabs Claudius with that sword and forces him to drink from the poisoned cup that Claudius had prepared for him. As Hamlet and Laertes are dying, Hamlet forgives Laertes for plotting against him, and Laertes forgives Hamlet for accidentally killing his father, Polonius. Hamlet then tells his friend Horatio not to commit suicide out of loyalty and friendship; instead, Hamlet asks Horatio to live and tell his story so that his name will be remembered with honor after his death.
Horatio
Horatio is a calm and composed scholar who is a true and faithful friend of Hamlet. Hamlet observes that Horatio handles both good and bad situations with a balanced mind. When Marcellus and Bernardo ask him to join them for the night watch and the Ghost shows up, Horatio tries to talk to it, but fails. He informs Hamlet about the Ghost’s appearance and accompanies him the next night on the fort walls. When the Ghost signals Hamlet to follow it, Horatio tries to stop Hamlet from going alone with the spirit. He also advises Hamlet not to accept the king’s challenge to fight against Laertes in a duel. When Hamlet dies, he asks Horatio not to kill himself, but to tell his story, explain his strange behaviour, and clear his name.
Laertes
Laertes, the son of Polonius, comes back from his studies in Paris after Hamlet kills Polonius. Laertes’ goal to take revenge for his father’s murder is similar to Hamlet’s goal to avenge his own father’s murder. Claudius calms down Laertes, who is upset about his father’s death and his sister Ophelia’s mental breakdown. Claudius makes a plan with Laertes to kill Hamlet in a sword fight.
Ophelia
Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and the sister of Laertes. When Polonius finds out that Hamlet has been showing interest in Ophelia, he warns his daughter that Hamlet might just be playing with her feelings. He explains that since Hamlet is a prince, he might not have the freedom to choose his own wife. After Ophelia ends her relationship with Hamlet, following her father’s advice, Polonius thinks that Hamlet’s love for her being rejected is what has driven him mad. In a way, Polonius uses Ophelia to find out the reason for Hamlet’s strange behavior. After Hamlet kills Polonius, Ophelia loses her mind and finally drowns. It’s not clear whether her death is an accident or a suicide.
Osric
Osric is a court official who delivers Laertes’ challenge for a duel to Hamlet. Hamlet makes fun of Osric without any hesitation for his exaggerated royal behaviours.
Players
The Players are a group of actors who travel around and come to visit a place called Elsinore. On Hamlet’s request, the main actor gives a speech that tells the story of the fall of Troy and the fate of its king and queen, Priam and Hecuba. Later, the Players perform a play called The Mousetrap, which is Hamlet’s version of another play called The Murder of Gonzago. They perform this play in front of Claudius and the entire court. The play shows a situation that is similar to the murder of King Hamlet and the seduction of his widow. Hamlet hopes to see if Claudius reacts to the play in a way that confirms his guilt and the Ghost’s claims. And indeed, Claudius does react in that way.
Polonius
Polonius is Claudius’s main advisor, also known as the Lord Chamberlain, and is the father of Laertes and Ophelia. He talks a lot and seems to enjoy listening to his own voice and making what he thinks are smart statements. Hamlet makes fun of him. When Polonius is hiding behind a curtain in Gertrude’s room, trying to listen to the conversation between Gertrude and Hamlet that he has set up, Hamlet stabs him, thinking that Claudius is the one hiding there.
Priest
The Priest is in charge of Ophelia’s funeral and decides the extent of the religious ceremonies that can be performed for her, as her death is thought to be a suicide.
Reynaldo
Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris to make inquiries regarding Laertes’ behaviour.
Rosencrantz
Rosencrantz, along with Guildenstern, is a schoolmate of Hamlet. The king calls him to a place called Elsinore to help find out the reason for Hamlet’s unusual actions.
First Sailor
When Hamlet is being taken to England, the ship he is on is captured by pirates who bring Hamlet back to Denmark. Among others, the First Sailor gives letters to Horatio and Claudius from Hamlet.
Voltimand
Voltimand, together with Cornelius, is a representative that Claudius sends to Norway. Their job is to talk to the king to stop Fortinbras from attacking Denmark.
