# Hamlet — Character guide

> Key figures in Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

- [Hamlet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/hamlet.md): Prince of Denmark, grieving his father's death and seeking truth about the ghost.
- [King Claudius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/claudius.md): Hamlet's uncle, now king and married to Hamlet's mother.
- [Queen Gertrude](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/gertrude.md): Hamlet's mother, married to Claudius after her husband's death.
- [Ophelia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/ophelia.md): Polonius's daughter and Hamlet's love interest, caught in political intrigue.
- [Polonius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/polonius.md): Lord chamberlain and father of Ophelia and Laertes, often meddling.
- [Laertes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/laertes.md): Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, returns from France seeking revenge.
- [Horatio](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/horatio.md): Hamlet's loyal friend and confidant from Wittenberg.
- [Ghost](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/ghost.md): Apparition of the late king, revealing murder and demanding vengeance.
- [Rosencrantz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/rosencrantz.md): Childhood friend of Hamlet, summoned to spy on him.
- [Guildenstern](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/guildenstern.md): Childhood friend of Hamlet, summoned with Rosencrantz to spy.
- [Fortinbras](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/fortinbras.md): Norwegian prince leading an army, later becomes king of Denmark.
- [Osric](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/osric.md): Courtier who delivers the fencing challenge to Hamlet.
- [Marcellus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/marcellus.md): Officer on guard who first sees the ghost.
- [Reynaldo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/reynaldo.md): Servant sent by Polonius to spy on Laertes in Paris.
- [Voltimand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/voltimand.md): Courtier sent to Norway on diplomatic mission.
- [First Clown](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/first_clown.md): Gravedigger who provides comic relief and digs Ophelia's grave.
- [Second Clown](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/second_clown.md): Assistant gravedigger who argues with the First Clown.
- [First Priest](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/first_priest.md): Priest officiating Ophelia's burial, questioning its rites.
- [Player King](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/player_king.md): Actor in the play-within-a-play, performing The Murder of Gonzago.
- [Player Queen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/player_queen.md): Actress in the play-within-a-play, playing the queen.
- [Lucianus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/lucianus.md): Player who murders the king in the play-within-a-play.
- [Yorick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/yorick.md): Former court jester, whose skull Hamlet discovers in the graveyard.
- [Captain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/captain.md): Norwegian army captain who speaks with Hamlet about Fortinbras's campaign.
- [Messenger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters/messenger.md): Sailor bringing letters from Hamlet to Horatio.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hamlet_se/characters