Characters

1- Hamlet
Hamlet is the main character in Shakespeare's play *Hamlet*. He is a young prince of
Denmark who is deeply troubled and confused after his father, the king, suddenly
dies. Hamlet is upset when his mother quickly marries his uncle, who becomes the
new king. Hamlet learns that his uncle killed his father to take the throne, and this
makes him very angry and determined to seek revenge.

Throughout the play, Hamlet struggles with his emotions, trying to decide what to
do. He is thoughtful and philosophical, often questioning life, death, and what is
right. His indecision and complex feelings lead to him making some bad choices. He
is also very intelligent, but his actions sometimes seem erratic or crazy. Hamlet’s
inner conflict and tragic choices drive the story, and ultimately, his quest for
revenge leads to his downfall and the deaths of many others.

Prince Hamlet is introduced as a reflective, slow-to-act character. While he stays true to this
characterization for almost the entire play, he does undergo a transformation by the end of the
play. By the end, Hamlet decides that he is no longer going to deprive himself of the revenge he
so badly desires against Claudius, so he kills him. At this point, Hamlet is existential. He is the
only character who fights back against Claudius's usurpation of the throne, and he accepts the
consequences of his actions (i.e. death) without a flinch. This final existential act is what
qualifies Hamlet as an existential character in an existential drama at a time when existentialism
did not exist in literature.

2- Claudius

Claudius is a key character in Shakespeare's *Hamlet*. He is the King of Denmark,

the brother of the late King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father), and the uncle of Hamlet
himself. At the start of the play, Claudius has recently taken the throne after the
mysterious death of his brother, King Hamlet. He quickly marries Gertrude, his
brother's widow, which disturbs Hamlet and others at the court.

Claudius is a complex character. On the surface, he appears to be a skilled, charming

ruler who is good at keeping peace and maintaining control over Denmark. He’s
politically savvy and gives speeches that show his concern for the welfare of the
kingdom. However, his rise to power is based on treachery, as he secretly murdered
his brother, King Hamlet, by poisoning him. This murder is the dark secret that
Claudius desperately tries to hide throughout the play.
Claudius' guilt over his crime is a significant part of his character. Though he is
aware of his wrongdoing, he struggles with remorse. In Act 3, Scene 3, Claudius tries
to pray for forgiveness, but he can't let go of the rewards (the throne and Gertrude)
that came from his sin. This internal conflict makes him a morally ambiguous
figure—he wants redemption but is unwilling to give up what he gained through his
crime.

Claudius orders Hamlet's exile to England and later attempts to have him killed,
reflecting his desperation to protect his throne.
———
3-Polonius
Polonius is a key character in Shakespeare's *Hamlet*. He is the Lord Chamberlain
of Denmark, which means he’s an important advisor to King Claudius. Polonius is
also the father of two children: Laertes and Ophelia. While he holds a significant
position at the royal court, his character is often seen as somewhat foolish,
meddling, and long-winded.

Polonius is portrayed as a talkative, self-important old man. He’s often seen giving
advice to others, especially to his children, but his advice is often overbearing and
lacks depth. For example, when he tells his son Laertes to "Give thy thoughts no
tongue" and "To thine own self be true," he offers well-known clichés, but his
actions often don’t live up to these ideals.

Polonius’ relationship with his daughter Ophelia is also complicated. He is

protective of her and constantly tries to control her actions, especially regarding her
relationship with Hamlet. He doesn’t trust Hamlet’s intentions and thinks Hamlet’s
love for Ophelia is just a passing fancy. He encourages Ophelia to distance herself
from Hamlet, and later spies on their interactions.

Polonius is deeply involved in the politics at court and frequently acts as a spy for
King Claudius. His desire to stay in the king’s good graces leads him to engage in
several schemes. For instance, he sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in
Paris, and later he arranges for Ophelia to meet Hamlet while he secretly observes
them.

One of the most significant moments involving Polonius is his death. He becomes a
victim of Hamlet’s madness and is accidentally killed by Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 4.
While Polonius is hiding behind a tapestry (or arras) in Gertrude's chamber, Hamlet,
thinking it is Claudius, stabs him through the fabric. This moment is a turning point
in the play, as it further escalates Hamlet's conflict with the royal family and sets off
a chain of tragic events.
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4-The Ghost
The Ghost in *Hamlet* plays a crucial role in the unfolding of the play’s plot. It is the
spirit of King Hamlet, the deceased father of Prince Hamlet, who appears to Hamlet
in the first act. The Ghost is one of the key elements that drives Hamlet’s quest for
revenge and sets the tragic events of the play in motion.

In the opening scenes, the Ghost appears on the ramparts of Elsinore Castle to two
sentinels, Marcellus and Bernardo, and to Horatio, Hamlet's close friend. They are all
surprised and frightened by the apparition, as the Ghost looks like the recently dead
King Hamlet, still dressed in his armor. When Hamlet is brought to see the Ghost, it
speaks to him in a low, haunting voice.

The Ghost reveals a shocking secret: he is not at peace because he was murdered by
his brother Claudius, who is now the new king of Denmark. The Ghost tells Hamlet
that Claudius poured poison in his ear while he was asleep in the garden, which
caused his death. He urges Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius but to
leave Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, to her own fate, as she will face judgment for her
actions.

The Ghost's appearance creates several key dramatic moments in the play. It serves
as a catalyst for Hamlet's actions, as he is deeply affected by the revelation of his
father's murder. The Ghost’s command to Hamlet to seek revenge against Claudius
becomes the driving force behind Hamlet's actions throughout the play, though
Hamlet struggles with his internal conflict about how to carry out the task.

One of the key mysteries surrounding the Ghost is whether it is truly the spirit of
King Hamlet or a devil in disguise sent to tempt Hamlet into committing murder. In
Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet even contemplates this possibility and hesitates to kill
Claudius while he is praying, wondering if the Ghost might have been a demon
leading him astray.

.
——-

5-Horatio
Horatio is Hamlet's loyal friend and confidant. He is a student at the University of
Wittenberg, like Hamlet, and is one of the first characters to see the Ghost of King
Hamlet. Horatio is sensible, rational, and grounded, often acting as a voice of reason
in the play. He tries to stop Hamlet from following the Ghost when it first appears,
worried that it might be dangerous. Throughout the play, Horatio remains a faithful
companion to Hamlet, offering advice and support, and trying to protect him from
harm.

Horatio is one of the few characters who survives the tragic events of the play. In the
final scene, after the deaths of Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes, Horatio is
left to tell Hamlet's story. He vows to explain the truth of what happened, ensuring
that Hamlet's memory and legacy will be honored.

6- Fortinbras

Fortinbras is the young prince of Norway. He is a minor character in the play but
plays an important role in the background. His father, also named Fortinbras, was
killed by King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father) in battle, and as a result, Fortinbras seeks
revenge. Throughout the play, Fortinbras is trying to reclaim lands that were lost by
his father, and his actions contrast with Hamlet's own hesitation to avenge his
father's murder.

Fortinbras is often seen as a foil to Hamlet. While Hamlet struggles with indecision
and delays in taking action, Fortinbras is determined and swift in his pursuit of his
goal. By the end of the play, Fortinbras has successfully gained control of Denmark,
taking the throne after the royal family’s deaths. His arrival at the end of the play
represents a return to order and the resolution of the political instability that had
been caused by Claudius’s reign.
————-
7-Ophelia
Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, and the sister of Laertes.
She is a gentle and innocent young woman who is deeply affected by the events
around her. Ophelia has a romantic relationship with Prince Hamlet, but it becomes
strained as Hamlet grows increasingly distant and behaves erratically.

Throughout the play, Ophelia is caught between her loyalty to her father and her
love for Hamlet. Her father Polonius and her brother Laertes both warn her to stay
away from Hamlet, believing that his love for her is not genuine. Ophelia obeys
them, and this causes Hamlet to become angry and cruel toward her, further
confusing her emotions.

After the death of her father, Polonius, who is accidentally killed by Hamlet, Ophelia
becomes deeply grief-stricken and mad with sorrow. She expresses her madness
through songs and strange behavior, symbolizing her loss of sanity and agency. Her
tragic death, which is often portrayed as a drowning, is a result of her overwhelming
grief. Ophelia’s death is one of the key events that leads to the final tragic sequence
in the play.
—————
8-Gertrude
Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother and the queen of Denmark. After the death of her
husband, King Hamlet, she quickly marries his brother Claudius, who becomes the
new king. This swift remarriage disturbs Hamlet, who feels betrayed by his mother’s
actions, especially since she seems to have forgotten her late husband so quickly.

Gertrude’s character is more complicated. While she is not portrayed as a villain, her
actions can be seen as morally questionable. She does not seem fully aware of the
treachery behind Claudius's rise to power, and her love for him leads her to make
decisions that alienate Hamlet. At the same time, Gertrude is not as calculating as
Claudius, and she genuinely cares for her son, even if her relationship with him is
strained.

Gertrude is a pivotal character in the play's climax. In the final act, she unknowingly
drinks from a poisoned cup intended for Hamlet and dies, marking the tragic end of
her story. Before her death, she is one of the few characters who is not fully aware of
Claudius's guilt, but after Hamlet confronts her in her chamber, she seems to realize
the truth about her husband’s actions.

- **Gertrude** is Hamlet’s mother and the queen of Denmark. Her quick marriage to
Claudius after King Hamlet’s death strains her relationship with Hamlet. Though she
is not malicious, her decisions lead to her own tragic death by poison, and she
eventually seems to realize the truth about Claudius’s guilt.

•Themes of the play :

In William Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*, several key themes explore the complexities of the human
condition, particularly through the central figure of Hamlet himself. Below are the primary
themes of the play, broken down in relation to *Madness*, *Tragedy*, *Delay of Revenge*, and
*Appearance vs. Reality*:

**Madness**

Madness is a central theme in *Hamlet*, and it operates on multiple levels. Hamlet pretends to
be mad as part of his plan to avenge his father's murder, but his behavior becomes so erratic
that it is often unclear whether his madness is feigned or genuine. His erratic actions and
soliloquies suggest deep internal turmoil, driven by grief, betrayal, and the moral dilemma of
avenging his father's death. Additionally, Ophelia’s descent into madness contrasts with
Hamlet's calculated insanity. Her madness, triggered by the death of her father (Polonius) and
Hamlet’s rejection, reflects the destruction caused by the toxic environment around her. Both
Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness ultimately lead to tragic ends, highlighting the destructive nature
of unresolved emotional and psychological conflict.

**Tragedy**

*Hamlet* is often regarded as one of the greatest tragedies in Western literature. The play
follows the tragic journey of Prince Hamlet, whose internal struggles, moral dilemmas, and
quest for revenge lead to his downfall and the deaths of many other characters, including his
own. Hamlet's tragic flaw, often identified as indecision or overthinking, leads to a series of
catastrophic events. His inability to act swiftly and decisively leads to more harm than good,
culminating in a tragic conclusion where almost everyone in the court dies. The play emphasizes
the inevitable nature of tragedy in a world shaped by betrayal, corruption, and the
consequences of human action.

**Delay of Revenge**

The delay of revenge is one of the most notable aspects of *Hamlet*. Throughout the play,
Hamlet is tasked with avenging his father’s murder by killing King Claudius, but he hesitates and
procrastinates at every turn. His famous soliloquy, “To be or not to be,” reflects his existential
crisis and moral conflict about the righteousness of revenge and the consequences of action.
Hamlet's delay is partly due to his desire for certainty and his philosophical musings on life,
death, and justice. His hesitation leads to further complications, and his eventual revenge is
marked by recklessness, showing the tragic consequences of his delay.

**Appearance vs. Reality**

The theme of appearance versus reality is central to *Hamlet*, where characters frequently
deceive one another, and things are not always what they seem. Hamlet himself is the most
prominent example, feigning madness to mask his true intentions. Claudius, the new king,
presents a façade of legitimate authority and grief over his brother’s death, but in reality, he is
the murderer. Polonius, too, is a figure who creates a false appearance of wisdom and authority,
while secretly spying on others for his own gain. This theme explores the disconnect between
how things appear and the hidden truths beneath the surface, particularly in the corrupt and
morally ambiguous world of Elsinore. The constant tension between appearance and reality
adds to the play's atmosphere of uncertainty, confusion, and betrayal.

•Imagery in the play

In *Hamlet*, Shakespeare employs rich and varied imagery to deepen the play’s
themes, illuminate characters’ emotions, and create a haunting atmosphere. The
imagery in *Hamlet* often reflects the psychological states of the characters, the
political corruption of Denmark, and the overarching themes of death and decay.
Here are some of the key types of imagery used in the play:

**1. Death and Decay Imagery**

The most prominent imagery in *Hamlet* is that of death and decay, reflecting both
the literal deaths that occur throughout the play and the moral corruption within
the Danish court. The famous soliloquy, “To be or not to be,” reflects Hamlet’s
obsession with mortality and the afterlife. The recurring image of rotting flesh and
corruption is symbolized by the “unweeded garden” Hamlet describes in Act 1,
Scene 2, which mirrors the state of Denmark under Claudius’ rule.

**2. Disease and Corruption**

Shakespeare uses disease imagery to convey the moral corruption of the state of
Denmark. Claudius, having murdered his brother, has introduced a "rank"
corruption into the body politic, one that spreads like a disease. Hamlet uses
phrases like “something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Act 1, Scene 4) to suggest
that Denmark’s political and moral decay is visible to all, even if it’s not yet fully
addressed. This pervasive imagery of sickness reflects how the corrupted actions of
individuals (particularly Claudius) contaminate society as a whole.

**3. Heaven and Hell Imagery**

Throughout the play, there is a stark contrast between heaven and hell, particularly
as Hamlet grapples with issues of morality and justice. The afterlife is often
mentioned as Hamlet contemplates revenge and his own fate. For example, in Act 3,
Scene 3, Hamlet refrains from killing Claudius while he is praying because he
doesn’t want to send him to heaven, instead desiring a more damned end. Hamlet’s
desire for justice and revenge becomes tied to this divine or infernal imagery,
making him question what is just and whether his revenge is morally right.

Who is the foil in the play?

In *Hamlet*, **Laertes** is a foil to **Hamlet**, highlighting their contrasting
approaches to revenge and action.

1. **Revenge**:
Laertes seeks swift vengeance for his father’s death, acting impulsively, while
Hamlet delays, caught in introspection and moral questioning. Laertes' decisiveness
contrasts with Hamlet's indecision.

2. **Family Loyalty**:
Both characters are motivated by family loyalty, but Laertes is driven by a desire for
honor and immediate action, whereas Hamlet wrestles with deeper existential
questions about life and death.

3. **Behavior in Death**:
Laertes is more outwardly emotional and seeks immediate retribution, while
Hamlet’s internal conflict over revenge makes him more contemplative.

4. **Resolution**:
In the final scene, Laertes forgives Hamlet before he dies, showing acceptance, while
Hamlet remains focused on justice until his own death.

Laertes’ directness and action highlight Hamlet’s hesitations and internal struggles,
making him a key foil in the play.

What are the comicelements in the play?

In *Hamlet*, Shakespeare incorporates several comic elements, though the play is

primarily a tragedy. These moments of humor and levity serve to provide contrast,
break the tension, and offer insight into character relationships. Some notable comic
elements include:

1. **The Gravedigger Scene (Act 5, Scene 1)**

The gravedigger scene is the most prominent comic moment in *Hamlet*. It occurs
in the graveyard, where Hamlet and Horatio encounter a gravedigger who, despite
his lowly status, engages in witty wordplay. The gravedigger’s irreverent humor and
philosophical remarks about death create a comic tone amid the tragic theme of
mortality. Hamlet’s reflection on the skull of Yorick, the court jester, also blends
humor with deeper existential contemplation, emphasizing the fleeting nature of
life.
 2. **Polonius' Foolishness**
Polonius, the court advisor, provides comic relief through his long-winded speeches,
pompous attitude, and misguided actions. His advice to Laertes and Ophelia often
comes across as clichéd and superficial, leading to unintentional humor. Polonius'
tendency to spy on others, particularly his attempts to understand Hamlet's
behavior, also adds to his comical portrayal as a meddling, self-important figure.

3. **Hamlet's Mockery of Polonius**

Hamlet engages in several moments of comic mockery, particularly towards
Polonius. In Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet mocks Polonius with clever wordplay and
sarcastic responses, calling him a “fishmonger” and playing along with his absurd
interpretations of Hamlet’s behavior. These moments highlight Hamlet’s wit but also
serve to undermine Polonius’ authority.

4. **The Play-within-a-Play (Act 3, Scene 2)**

The play-within-a-play, *The Mousetrap*, in which Hamlet stages a performance to
expose Claudius’ guilt, contains both dramatic and comic elements. The actors' over-
the-top performances and the absurdity of the situation add humor, especially as
Hamlet teases the actors and delights in watching Claudius' reaction. This scene
blends farce and tragedy, showing Hamlet’s cunning and wit.

These comic moments provide much-needed relief from the play's dark themes and
add complexity to the characters, especially Hamlet, who uses humor to mask his
deeper emotional and existential struggles.

Role of fate in the play :

In *Hamlet*, **fate** plays a significant role in driving the plot and shaping the
characters’ destinies.

1. **Hamlet’s Sense of Destiny**: Hamlet feels burdened by the Ghost’s command

to avenge his father’s death, leading to his internal conflict about fate versus free
will.

2. **Fortune and Coincidence**: Several key events occur by chance, such as

Hamlet accidentally killing Polonius, which triggers a chain of tragic events. Fate
seems to guide these moments unpredictably.
3. **The Ghost’s Role**: The Ghost represents fate, pushing Hamlet into his role as
avenger, making the plot feel predestined from the start.

4. **The Final Duel**: The poisoned swords in the final duel, part of Claudius’ plan,
show how fate intertwines with the characters' choices, leading to their inevitable
deaths.

Ultimately, fate in *Hamlet* seems both inevitable and shaped by the characters'
actions, leading to the play’s tragic conclusion.