Characters in the play

Characters in the play

1. King Claudius - brother to the late King Hamlet

   • Hamlet - son of the late King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude
     • Horatio - Hamlet’s friend and confidant
   • Queen Gertrude - widow of King Hamlet, now married to Claudius
   • Polonius - father of Ophelia and Laertes, councilor to King Claudius
     • Ophelia - daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes
       • Laertes - brother of Ophelia
   • The Ghost - the spirit of the late King Hamlet

2. Fortinbras - Prince of Norway

3. Other characters mentioned in the list include:

   • Reynaldo - servant to Polonius
   • Voltemand, Cornelius, Rosencrants, Guildenstern, Osric - characters associated with the Danish court
   • Gentleman, A lord - minor characters
   • A Captain in Fortinbras’ army - associated with Fortinbras
   • Ambassadors to Denmark from England - diplomatic characters
   • Players who take the roles of Prologue, Player King, Player Queen, and Lucianus in The Murder of Gonzago - actors in the play within the play
   • Two Messengers, Sailors, Gravedigger, Gravedigger’s companion, Doctor of Divinity, Attendants, Soldiers, Officers - minor characters