Hamlet

Hamlet

He is essentially a tragic character. Much is expected of him but little is achieved by him. Except his goal to avenge his father's murder — but this is only achieved at great cost. He is of no more than medium build, yet he seems to be of dignified and graceful bearing. He is a deeply moral person — he does not appreciate Claudius's constant celebration with drink. He is a critical student of drama and well versed in the classics. He is intelligent and witty. He shows deep emotional feelings. He has a tendency towards dramatic behaviour. He is Protestant in religion. (Note that Religion was very important in the times of the play). He shows great tension within himself between action and inaction — as well as between emotion and reason. He is very into introspection and delving into his own nature — showing a very mature person. He is popular. He's a skilful fencer. He is a genuine person who hates falseness.

Prince of Denmark. A scholar but no man of action.

Claudius

Suave: having a smooth, confident and elegant manner or appearance. Worldly-wise and fashionable. Hypocritical or two faced Very much the Machiavellian politician: using clever and deceitful schemes to achieve what one wants, especially in politics -- shown in countless places in the play. Suspicious of everyone. Sensual nature but not in a positive way. Wishes to celebrate everything with drink. Represented as the snake from Genesis who has corrupted Denmark. Coarse and vulgar in nature. Does occasionally suffer from pangs of conscience BUT still will not give up what he has gained by his actions. Ability to act promptly and resourcefully to meet matters arising but his actions are always those that will best suit himself. Everything he does is coloured by deception and hypocrisy -- and every pleasantry is a mask behind which to shield evil thoughts and dark plotting.

King of Denmark who married brother's widow (Hamlet's mother).

Gertrude

She is governed mainly by emotions which cause her to avoid the unpleasant facts of life -- making her an essentially weak woman. She is a highly emotional woman, naïve and easily swayed. She loves Hamlet. She only wants him to get better from his "insanity". Nevertheless, she does not really understand him. Because of this, she cannot understand why he does not adapt as easily to his new step-father as she does to her new husband. When she dies, she sides with Hamlet -- revealing that she is finally aware of what Claudius has done.

Queen of Denmark and mother to Hamlet. She married late husband's brother.

Ophelia

She is not equipped to cope with the problems of the world. She is too innocent. Not as worldly as either her brother or her father but simple almost to the point of being child-like. Deceit is unknown to her but speaks her thoughts with openness, unsuspecting of the fact that others will give answers that are not as honest as hers. Devoted to Hamlet BUT, because of her simplicity, she can never really understand Hamlet and the depths of his philosophy. To an extent she is to be pitied because she is open to the cunning and manipulation of her brother and father. She is even more open to her father's ministrations than she is to her brother's. She has no other thought than the duty of obedience to her parent. She does not even think to follow her heart instead of her father's orders -- total obedience is important to her. Ophelia goes truly mad -- not at all like Hamlet's pretended madness. The tragic end of Ophelia is brought about by the inability of a simple and unsophisticated soul to bear the crudities and the realities of a world in which vice and not virtue is the order of things.

Loved but dropped by Hamlet.

Ghost of Hamlet's father

Some question whether the ghost of Hamlet's father is real, claiming that Hamlet really is mad and not just faking it. On the other hand, Horatio saw it. So did other members of the watch. Can one not conclude, therefore, that the ghost is indeed a definite reality? The ghost is probably malignant, i.e. meaning to do harm. Without the ghost, Hamlet would not have been made aware of his father's murder, and therefore would not avenge his death. The fact that Hamlet can see the ghost while the Queen cannot serves a moral purpose: to show on the one hand affinity between father and son (they were close), while showing the absolute breach (on the Queen's side at least) between husband and wife. The ghost lends an atmosphere of mystery to the play, reminding the audience that they have to deal not only with consequences of their actions on this earth but also in the after-life.

Reveals facts of murder and asks for revenge.

Horatio

Horatio alone remains faithful when all others doubt Hamlet. He is noble, loyal, caring, courageous, kind and compassionate. He is a military man. He has no political background. He is subtle and intelligent. He is a scholar and leader. He knew the late King. He is Protestant in religion. He is controlled and discreet. Shakespeare uses him in first scene as a spokesman -- giving background and political information for the soldiers (& therefore the audience). BUT thereafter he is a confidant for Hamlet and therefore receives information that is even more important for the audience to hear. After seeing the ghost, he tells Hamlet -- which shows his loyalty. He knows of Claudius' treachery -- and helps Hamlet to set up the play as a trap. He then observes the king's reactions to the play to confirm his guilt. Horatio is left alive at the end of the play so as to tell Hamlet's story.

Friend to Hamlet and gives good advice to him.

Fortinbras

His temperament is wild & uncontrolled. He is a proud person who wants to equal or even surpass King Hamlet. His pride, however, leads him to be prepared to sacrifice the lives of his men for what he considers a matter involving the pride of his country. He is looking to revenge the death of his father at the hands of King Hamlet many years earlier. At the end of the play -- when he enters the court -- his entry symbolises the entrance of the outside world. He offers Denmark a future stability which will make the tragedy and suffering worthwhile. He is not a man of the mind. He is a descendant of Scandinavian warriors -- a fighter but not a scholar. University is not for him BUT RATHER lawless resolution, quarrels of honour and the doctrine of the sword.

Prince of Norway, a capable soldier whose father slain by Hamlet's father.

Laertes

He is very worldly-wise. He is a young man of many achievements but becomes set on a collision course with Hamlet. He is close to Ophelia -- and respectful to Polonius. He becomes overtaken by passion rather than reason when he returns home from France to find his father dead. He sees taking revenge as a matter of honour. He is presented as a rival and a "foil" to Prince Hamlet in some respects. Both are young men of many accomplishments and of noble rank.

Son to Polonius and a man of action.

Polonius

As a councillor, he felt it his duty to help the king in trying to find out what was wrong with Hamlet. For this, he is mistakenly killed. (Does this, however, justify his getting Ophelia involved in trying to spy on Hamlet?) He tried to protect his daughter from heartbreak at the hands of Hamlet -- in case Hamlet was either just playing with her emotions and was not serious about her or was prevented from marrying her as a result of his station in the court. He is said to be well-meaning but verbose and officious. He is over-cautious and mistrustful. He's a stereotypical Chancellor. Certainly he is very conventional. Also self-interested and a moralist. He was also hypocritical, pontificating (preaching) on personal integrity -- but he certainly did not apply his preaching to himself. He was a meddling-busybody -- even in his own son's life. He was a lover of flattery, was pompous, vain and arrogant. Others state that, although he was somewhat foolish in his actions, he nevertheless did not deserve to be killed for these relatively minor faults. What do you think?

Father to Ophelia and Laertes and principal Secretary of State; he believed Hamlet was mad.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern

The two characters are seen as ONE and not as individuals. They were a friend of Hamlet but were nevertheless instructed by Claudius to spy on him. This shows their changeable loyalty -- the fact that, although they were childhood friends of Hamlet, they were easily bought off by Claudius, and therefore serving their own self-interests. They enjoy playing with words and reasoning -- but are really no match for Hamlet's wit, and he quickly sees through them. Rosencrantz himself was a practised diplomat.

Were friends of Hamlet but turn spy on him for Claudius and are therefore despised by him. They die in England.

Osric
(a courtier)

Grave Digger
(gives comic relief)

Marcellus & Bernardo
(officers of the watch)

Reynaldo
(man servant to Polonius)

Cornelius & Voltimand
(Danish Ambassadors to Norway)

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