Hamlet, Prince of
Denmark The crown
prince of Denmark
(he is mad and sees
ghosts)
Claudius, King of
Denmark (he has
usurped the throne
and married his
sister-in-law)
Gertrude, Queen of
Denmark Prince
Hamlet's mother, King
Hamlet's widow, King
Claudius' wife.
The Ghost Spirit of the
late King Hamlet,
condemned to walk the
earth until his soul is
cleansed of its sins.
Polonius, The elderly Lord
Chamberlain, chief counselor to
Claudius
Laertes, Polonius' son and
Ophelia's brother; he returns from
school because of King Hamlet's
death, goes back to Paris, and
then returns again after his own
father's murder
Ophelia, Daughter of Polonius, sister
of Laertes, Ophelia is beloved of
Hamlet.
Horatio, A commoner, Horatio went to
school with Hamlet and remains his
loyal best friend