Key Characters in Hamlet

• Hamlet – The conflicted Prince of Denmark
• Claudius – The usurping King of Denmark
• Gertrude – Hamlet’s mother and Queen
• Polonius – The meddling court adviser
• Ophelia – Polonius’s daughter, entangled in Hamlet’s fate
• Laertes – Ophelia’s brother, seeking revenge
• Horatio – Hamlet’s loyal friend and confidant
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Courtiers manipulated by Claudius
• The Ghost – The spirit of King Hamlet, whose appearance sets the play in motion
• Fortinbras – The Prince of Norway, representing external political tension

Claudius is depicted as a calculating and ambitious leader who seizes the throne by murdering his own brother, King Hamlet. His usurpation disrupts the natural order, establishing a realm where deception, moral decay, and internal conflict reign. His rise to power not only challenges the legitimacy of royal succession but also sets the stage for the themes of betrayal and revenge, which are central to the play.