Characters
Hamlet: Hamlet is the titular character, and flawed protagonist of the play. Hamlet is a young man, who has studied at Wittenberg, and is intelligent. Hamlet’s personality and behavior is complex, as his fatal flaw of the tragic story is his inaction and passivity, but he also makes rash and sudden decisions. Hamlet is an incredibly cerebral character, as he often hypothesizes and philosophizes on several topics such as morality, mortality, and love. Hamlet’s parents are the late King Hamlet, and Queen Gertrude. Hamlet is romantically interested in Ophelia, and his best friend is loyal Horatio. Hamlet’s chief motivation in the play is to achieve justice and revenge for his father’s murder.
Claudius: Claudius is the king of Denmark, antagonist of Hamlet, the character who Hamlet is in conflict with throughout the play. Claudius’s act of killing Hamlet’s father, and marrying Queen Gertrude, thus being king and Hamlet’s uncle, which creates the main conflict of the story, as Hamlet attempts to achieve justice by killing Claudius. Claudius is often shown as a manipulative character, and an excellent politician in Hamlet, achieving his goals and desires, while putting on a façade of good will towards the kingdom. Claudius attempts to befriend everybody in the kingdom, all while achieving what he wants. However, Claudius also appears to show remorse for his actions, as he attempts to pray to God, states that his offense is “rank” and “stinks to heaven”. Claudius’s main motivation is to keep power, and stay on the throne of Denmark. The character of the Claudius explores the theme of power in Hamlet, through Claudius’s attempts to keep the throne of Denmark, being willing to do whatever is necessary to gain power.
Gertrude: Gertrude is the queen of Denmark, once married to King Hamlet, now married to King Claudius. Gertrude is rather oblivious and clueless, having no part in Claudius’s deception, and is completely unaware of the true nature of things going on in Denmark, until the very end. Gertrude appears to be a genuinely kind and good character, but her marriage to Claudius frustrates Hamlet greatly. In the end, Gertrude’s obliviousness is her undoing, as she unknowingly drinks from a poisoned cup that Claudius intended for Hamlet, playing a significant part in the catastrophe. Gertrude’s only apparent motivation in the play is to see Hamlet recover joy and peace. Gertrude’s character contributes significantly to the theme of family drama, as her marriage to Claudius is an important reason for which Hamlet is depressed, and frustrated with his life.
Polonius: Polonius is the advisor to King Claudius, and father of Ophelia and Laertes. Polonius is generally seen as idiotic, long-winded, and hypocritical in Hamlet. Polonius has a tendency to get lost in his own words, loving to hear himself speak, and believing he is more important then he actually is. Polonius’s motivation in Hamlet is to please King Claudius, understand Hamlet’s apparent madness, and keep his daughter Ophelia from being romantically involved with Hamlet. Polonius contributes to the theme of fathers and sons, as Laertes wrestles with his responsibility to Polonius as a father, just as Hamlet struggles with his responsibility to his father.
Laertes: Laertes is the son of Polonius, and the brother of Ophelia. Laertes is for the most part an honorable man, caring for Ophelia, trying to fulfill his duties to Polonius, and after committing offence against Hamlet, asking his forgiveness. Laertes can be seen as a foil to Hamlet, because of his quick ability to act, fulfillment of seeking justice for his father, and honorable nature. Laertes’ motivation is to care for his family, and achieve justice for the death of his father. Laertes contributes significantly to the theme of living honorably in a fallen world. While Laertes is honorable, he gives in to his desire for revenge, and deceives and lies in order to kill Hamlet. Upon his death, Laertes proclaims: “I am justly killed by my own treachery” Laertes’ death is a warning of succumbing to the evil in the world, and plays a major part in the tragic catastrophe.
Ophelia: Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, brother of Laertes, and romantic interest of Hamlet. Ophelia is a sweet, good-natured girl, who gets caught in the web of deceit and evil that surrounds her. After Hamlet’s rejection of her, and Polonius’ death, Ophelia becomes insane, and drowns herself. Ophelia’s character contributes to the themes of madness, and multiplication of evil, as Ophelia’s madness leads to her death, because of her mind being unable to withstand the evil that is incredibly apparent in Hamlet.
The Ghost of King Hamlet: The ghost of Hamlet’s deceased father, King Hamlet, was once married to Gertrude, and was murdered by Claudius. The ghost of King Hamlet’s appearance to Hamlet in the beginning of the play sets a large part of the plot in motion, as the ghost reveals to Hamlet Claudius’ wickedness. The ghost’s motivation is to achieve justice for his unfortunate demise. Through the Ghost’s interactions with Hamlet, the themes of fathers and sons (inherent responsibilities) and revenge are explored, due to Hamlet’s responsibility to his father to avenge his murder, and the Ghost’s encouragement of Hamlet to seek revenge and justice through killing Claudius.
Horatio: Horatio is Hamlet’s loyal friend, who studied alongside Hamlet at Wittenberg. Horatio, along with Ophelia, is one of the only pure, and innocent characters in the play. Throughout the events of the story, Horatio remains loyal to Hamlet, through telling Hamlet about the ghost, keeping an eye on Claudius during the mousetrap play, keeping Hamlet’s secrets, and fulfilling Hamlet’s wish for Horatio to stay alive after Hamlets’ death, to tell his story. Horatio’s main motivation is to serve Hamlet, and protect him, thus Horatio’s relationship with Hamlet is one of a true sacrificial love, contributing to the theme of love in the play.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two courtiers, who serve King Claudius. Both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were once childhood friends of Hamlet, at Wittenberg. Because of their relationship to Hamlet, Claudius asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet, and deduce the reasoning for his madness. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are loyal to Claudius in the play, causing Hamlet to distrust them, and wisely refusing to see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as friends. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s motivations are to serve King Claudius, a nd deduce Hamlet’s madness. These motivations lead to the theme of lying, pretending, and deceiving, as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lie and deceive Hamlet, in attempts to give information to Claudius.
Fortinbras: Fortinbras is the prince of Norway. Hamlet’s father killed Fortinbras’ father, causing portions of Norway land to be taken away from the Norwegians. Fortinbras’ motivation is to conquer Denmark, taking the land back from Hamlet. This contributes to the theme of fathers and sons (inherent responsibilities).