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William Shakespeare

Hamlet: characters

Principal characters

Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark is grieving for his father. He is called on to avenge his father's death, but struggles to decide what to trust and how to act.

Relationships

  • Claudiusuncle and stepfather
  • Gertrudemother
  • King Hamletfather
  • Opheliawoman he loves
  • Horatiotrusted friend
  • Rosencrantzold school friend
  • Guildensternold school friend
  • Laertesopponent in the final duel

Speaks in 13 of 20 scenes

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5
  • Claudius

Danish royal family

  • Gertrude
  • King Hamlet

Polonius's family

  • Polonius
  • Ophelia
  • Laertes

Friends and courtiers

  • Horatio
  • Rosencrantz
  • Guildenstern
  • Osric
  • Voltemand
  • Cornelius

Rulers abroad

  • Fortinbras
  • Old Fortinbras
  • King of Norway
  • King of England

Castle watch

  • Marcellus
  • Barnardo
  • Francisco

Other characters

  • Reynaldo
  • First Player
  • Gravedigger
  • Second Gravedigger
  • Priest
  • Yorick

Access all 26 characters in Hamlet

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In the Many Margins app for iPhone and iPad. Teaching it? The teacher licence has it all.