Character ListHamlet

Marcellus and Bernardo

Guards at Elsinore The first two guards to see the ghost

of old King Hamlet while patrolling the roof of the castle

They then summon Horatio to see it.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Old friends of Hamlet Not very close to him anymore But when the King and Queen

summon them to Denmark, they jump on the chance.

Claudius and Gertrude do not really know they are not that close to Hamlet and ask the two to help them figure out what’s wrong with the prince.

Old Hamlet’s Ghost

Prince Hamlet’s father who recently passed away.

He asks his son to avenge his death Assures Hamlet that his mother had

no part in his murder. Does not tell how Claudius murdered

him. At first Hamlet’s unsure if it was

really his father.

Laertes

Son of Polonius, who is the Lord Chamberlain and Ophelia’s older brother.

Goes to Fance for a big part of the play.

Claudius plots a sword in which Laertes and Hamlet would fight and kill Hamlet in the process.

Ophelia

Hamlet’s love interest Her father makes her spy on Hamlet

to find out what’s wrong with him. Hamlet finds this out and loses trust. When her father dies, she goes

insane and dies.

Polonius

The Lord Chamberlain of the court of Denmark

Dedicated to the King and Queen He tries to find out what’s wrong

with Hamlet but he fails to find it. Eventually dies.

Horatio

Hamlet’s best friend. Goes to Wittenberg with Hamlet Always loyal to Hamlet Willing to help him avenge his

father’s death. Even after Hamlet dies, he agrees to

honor Hamlet’s dying wish to tell his story.

Gertrude

The Widow of old Kind Hamlet Prince Hamlet’s mother Marries Claudius after the death of

King Hamlet This makes Prince Hamlet think that

she might have been involved in the crime.

Claudius

The new King of Denmark Hamlet’s uncle&step father Villain of the play Wants to send Hamlet away to get

him out of his sight. Plots to kill hamlet

Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark College student at Wittenberg People are unsure if he is really

insane Becomes obsessed with avenging his

father’s death and killing Claudius Killed in Act 5 after being stabbed

with Laertes’s poisoned sword