Hamlet Act 4 Characters

Hamlet Act 4 Characters

1. Fortinbras

   • Man of action
   • Willing to risk "twenty thousand souls" for his own gain
   • Man of courage

2. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

   • Disloyal to Hamlet
   • Little moral sense
   • Little intelligence
   • Tools in the hands of Claudius

3. Horatio

   • Hamlet's trusted friend
   • Loyal and true

4. Laertes

   • Cares about his sister, Ophelia
   • Man of action
   • Sweeps to revenge without any proof
   • Impulsive and thoughtless
   • Prepared to defy his King, God and conscience
   • Blinded by rage
   • Dishonourable by agreeing to the King's plan

5. Ophelia

   • Death of her father and Hamlet's betrayal caused Ophelia to be helpless and to lose reason
   • Madness is real
   • Didn't try to save herself, committed suicide

6. Claudius

   • Shrewd
   • Careful to maintain approval from his people
   • Quick to realise danger to himself from Hamlet
   • Takes immediate action
   • Shows control when under threat
   • Calm and dignified facing Laertes
   • Manipulates Laertes to kill Hamlet
   • Ruthless
   • Cares about himself
   • Feels attacked, overwhelmed - lost people's trust

7. Hamlet

   • Anger motivates him to revenge
   • Inwardly divided
   • Seldom reasons out alternative courses of action
   • Meditations are long and complex
   • Bravely boarded the pirate ship
   • Ruthless to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - arrogant and insulting
   • Admires Fortinbras for his action
   • Courageous, capable of action
   • Philosopher
   • Sly and clever
   • Hostile to Claudius
   • Calls himself a coward in comparison to Fortinbras - ashamed

8. Gertrude

   • In Claudius's shadow
   • Loves Hamlet and is loyal to him
   • Recognises her own sin
   • Fears what is to come