Characters

Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark. He is the protagonist of the play. Hamlet seeks revenge for the murder of his father's death. He kills Polonius. He orders Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to be killed. He kills King Claudius. Laertes kills him as he kills Laertes. He is a main character and a dynamic one.

The Ghost

The Ghost of Old Hamlet, Hamlet's father. He tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him and asks Hamlet to avenge his murder. He is a minor and static character.

Queen Gertrude

She is the Queen of Denmark. After King Hamlet's death, she marries Claudius. She is accidentally poisoned by Claudius. She is a minor character. She is also a dynamic character as she goes to Hamlet side when she realizes her hasty marriage to Claudius looked suspicious.

King Claudius

The King of Denmark. He kills his brother, Old Hamlet and takes his throne. He then marries his brother's widow, Gertrude. He is the antagonist of the play. He orders Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to take Hamlet to England and have him killed. He is a main character and a static one, because he never truly changes his ways.

Ophelia

Hamlet is in love with her, but denies her when he realizes that she is being manipulated by Claudius and Polonius. She goes insane after her father's death and eventually drowns. She is a dynamic character, because she is manipulated by Claudius and Polonius. She is a main character.

Laertes

Ophelia's brother. He is gone for most of the play and comes back after his father's death. He joins Claudius in plotting to kill Hamlet. He puts poison on his blade and cuts Hamlet. Hamlet takes his sword and stabs him with it. When they realize they are dying, Hamlet and Laertes forgive each other. He is a dynamic character and a main one.

Polonius

Laertes and Ophelia's father. He is stabbed by Hamlet, when Hamlet finds him spying on Hamlet and the Queen. He is a friend of Claudius and helps him throughout the play. He is a minor and static character.

Reynaldo

He is a servant of Polonius. He is sent to France to spy on Laertes for Polonius. He is a minor, static character.

Guildenstern and Rosencrantz

They are school friends of Hamlet. However, they spy on Hamlet for the King. Because Hamlet believes that they betrayed him and they were going to have him executed, he forges a paper to have them executed. They are static and minor characters.

Horatio

He is Hamlet's only true friend. He helps Hamlet decide if Claudius killed his father. He also is the only pesron Hamlet truly trusts. Main and static character

Fortinbras

He is the King of Norway. He is Hamlet's foil. When he and Hamlet meet, Hamlet finds his weak points and decides that he will avenge his father as quickly as possible. Fortinbras is a minor character and a static one, too.

Act I