Hamlet Characters

Cladius

uncle to hamlet
Present King of Denmark
killed old hamlet

Hamlet

a student at the University in Wittenberg
prince of Denmark
hates Claudius

Polonius

long-bearded chief counselor
spies on Hamlet
father of Ophelia and Laertes

Horatio

friend of Hamlet's
student at the University at Wittenberg

Laertes

Polonius's son
raises a rebellion against Claudius
willing to do anything for revenge

Rosencrantz

Hamlet's childhood friend
inseparable from Guildenstern
spies on Hamlet

Guildenstern

hamlet's childhood friend
inseperable from Rosencrantz
accompanies Hamlet on the ship
spies on Hamlet

Marcellus

guard at Elsinore
concerned about the warlike preparations in Denmark
Barnado's companion on the midnight round
knows more about the ghost than Barnado

Barnado

guard at Elsinore
charged with the midnight round
believes a war might happen in Denmark
thinks the ghost is trying to warn people

Fransisco

guard at Elsinore

Reynaldo

servant and spy of Polonius
spied on Laertes in Paris

Fortinbras

prince of Norway
wants revenge against his father
invades small bit of Poland

Gertude

queen of Denmark
Hamlet's mother
not a native Dan
loves her son deeply

Ophelia

Polonius's daughter
In love with Hamlet
Father doesn't approve of Hamlet
Very obedient to her brother and father
falls into a river and drowns

Ghost

haunts the castle of Elsinore
suspected to be Old Hamlet
wants to speak with his son
unable to confess his sins before death