Hamlet

Cast of Characters

Hamlet
Prince of Denmark, son of Gertrude, nephew of Claudius, and heir to the throne. Hamlet is deep thinker and often focuses on questions that are impossible to answer about religion, death, truth, reality, and the motivations of others. Hamlet hates those that are false yet pretends to be mad {crazy}, he is an obsessive thinker, but acts impulsively too. He is the ultimate enigma.

Claudius
Hamlets uncle, and Gertrudes second husband. Power hunger and lustful, murders his brother so he can take the throne and marry Gertrude. Easily charms the royal court to accept his marriage so soon after his brothers death. There are flickers of guilt and sincere towards Gertrude

Gertrude
Hamlets mother. After Hamlets father dies she quickly marries Hamlets uncle Claudius her husbands brother. Good woman and mother but weak willed and unable to control her personal passions. It is questioned whether she marries Claudius for lust, love or desire to remain queen. This is the ultimate breach of proper morals {aka The Chain of Being}

Polonius

Lord Chamberlain of Denmark and father of Laertes and Ophelia whom he loves deeply and wishes to protecteven to the point of spying on them. Pompous , long-winded and a schemer Always tries to be on the good side of power.

Laertes
Polonius son and Ophelia's brother. Hotheaded and passionate, but clearly deeply loves and wishes to protect his family. Man prone to action rather than thought Also seeks revenge for his fathers death. Serves as a foil or double to Hamlet

Ophelia
Polonius daughter, Laertes sister and Hamlets love. Forced to obey the men around herher father forces her to stop speaking to Hamlet then tells her she must spy on him. Her loyalty to her father and her estrangement from Hamlet cause her to slowly lose her mind. Female version of Hamlets double while he pretends to be mad and she truly goes insane.

Horatio
University friend to Hamlet Understands and speaks Latin Hamlets confidante while he seeks revenge against Claudius. Has great self-restraint a quality greatly admired by Hamlet. The least passionate character in Hamlet

The Ghost

spirit that claims to be Hamlets dead father, forced to atory since he was murdered by Claudius. able to ask for forgiveness before death rs Hamlet to seek revenge against Claudius, but NOT rude. let wonders if the ghost is demon in disguise.

Fortinbras

Prince of Norway. Father died when in battle with Old Hamlet. Seeks revenge for his fathers death and to retake the lands lost. Seen as another double for Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Friends of Hamlets from university who are asked by Gertrude and Claudius to find out why Hamlet is sad. Spies for King Claudius Hamlet turns on them even though they seem to mean well {even if they arent that smart}

Osric
Nobleman who flatters everyone more powerful than him and speaks in a flowery language

Gravediggers
Two commoners employed to dig the graves in the local churchyard

Marcellus, Barnardo & Francisco

Guardsmen of Elsinore

Voltemand, Cornelius & Reynaldo

Danish Ambassadors to Norway

Captain
An officer in Fortinbras army

Yorick
Jester at Elsinore in Hamlets youth. Hamlet stumbles upon his grave in the churchyard.

Themes
PARENT & CHILD Hamlet examines several family relationships (father & son, mother & son, & father & daughter) & the loyalty & trust involved in them. Hint: most are found to be dysfunctional. For example, where should Hamlet's trust/loyalty lie now that his dad's dead, his mom's remarried, & his uncle's now his king/stepfather?

Themes
APPEARANCE VS. REALITY Things aren't what they seem: the guilty appear innocent, friends prove untrustworthy, etc. LIFE AS THEATER Characters can't determine who's for real & who's putting on an act. Best example is the play-within-a-play. This theme is similar to the metaphor "All the world's a stage".

Themes
GOOD VS. EVIL In less than black-&-white terms, Hamlet is a struggle of good vs. evil. He must determine who the bad guys are, where that evil exists, & then expose it. REVENGE Physical, psychological/emotional- revenge runs rampant in Hamlet, especially avenging the wrong done to a loved one. The Ghost's demands for revenge are what sets the whole play in motion. Can't we just let bygones be bygones? Apparently not in Hamlet.

Themes
THOUGHT VS. ACTION There are times to think, & there are times to act; most of the time Hamlet doesn't know which is which. He's so afraid of doing the wrong thing (or the right thing in a dishonorable way) that he overanalyzes everything & nothing gets done at all. Hamlet would've made a great shrink!

One Last thought.