Hamlet Act V Characters

Hamlet Act V Characters

1. Fortinbras

   • Sadly accepts his responsibility
   • Has dignity and courage
   • Becomes leader, restores Denmark from corruption
   • Decisiveness
   • Strong
   • Man of action - Arranges Hamlet's funeral

2. Horatio

   • Practical
   • Cares about Hamlet - didn't want him to fight
   • Hamlet's trusted friend
   • Wanted to kill himself to be with Hamlet
   • Loyal
   • Willing to fulfill Hamlet's wish

3. Laertes

   • Cares about Ophelia - protested at the funeral
   • Impulsive
   • Didn't automatically make peace with Hamlet
   • Regrets plan to kill Hamlet
   • Redeems himself when he dies - tells Hamlet the truth
   • Sly and cunning
   • Dies in a state of grace
   • Asks for Hamlet's forgiveness

4. Gertrude

   • Willing to do anything to protect Hamlet
   • Warns Hamlet about the poison
   • Redeems herself when she dies
   • Dies a victim of Claudius's treachery

5. Claudius

   • Distances himself from Hamlet "Cousin", "Your son"
   • Didn't stop Gertrude drinking the poison - apathetic
   • Really supported Laertes, not Hamlet
   • Wants to get rid of Hamlet as soon as possible
   • Speech is artifical
   • Sly and cunning
   • Ruthless

6. Hamlet

   • Sensitive to the grave diggers
   • Outrageous at gravediggers
   • Reflects on death
   • Philosophical
   • Respects Laertes - saw himself
   • Expresses love for Ophelia at funeral
   • Internal conflict - can't sleep because of thoughts
   • Capable of action - instinctively decided a plan to get away
   • Intelligent
   • Thought holds him back
   • Doesn't regret Rosencrantz's and Guildenstern's death
   • Regrets fighting with Laertes
   • Unpleasant towards Osric
   • Looks for forgiveness from Laertes
   • Confesses Polonius's death, but blames his madness
   • Stabs Claudius and makes him drink the poison
   • Elected Fortinbras as he successor
   • Courageous
   • Accepts the fate of death
   • Noble death