ENG4U Hamlet act 1-2

Hamlet

Prince of Denmark, son to KIng Hamlet, nephew to Claudius

Claudius

King of Denmark, elected to the throne after King Hamlet’s death, married to Gertrude

Gertrude

Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother, married to Claudius

Ghost

Appears in the image of Old Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet’s friend from university, came to Elsinore for King Hamlet’s funeral

Polonius

Claudius’s counsellor, father of Ophelia and Laertes

Ophelia

Daughter of Polonius, sister to Laertes, in love with Hamlet

Laertes

son of Polonius, returned to Elsinore from Paris

Rozencratntz, Guildenstern

Schoolmates/friends of Hamlet, summoned to Elsenore by Claudius/Gertrude

Fortinbras

prince of Norway, wants revenge for his father’s death

Reynaldo

Polonius’s servant, sent to spy on Laertes

Hamlet’s family situation

Father recently passed away (killed by uncle). Uncle and mother have married each other

relationships between parents and children

Polonius-Ophelia/Laertes: father cares about them, shows care by giving advice, sometimes intervening in thier lives

Gertrude-Hamlet: hamlet is disgusted at what his mother has done

Claudius-Hamlet: claudius tries to act as a father/authority figure to hamlet, hamlet continues to dislike him

Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship

• family warns ophelia not to trust hamlet

• they do seem to love each other

• hamlet writes letters