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

Gertrude, as Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother, represents both royal authority and personal vulnerability. Her hasty remarriage to Claudius after King Hamlet’s death is pivotal, casting a shadow over her loyalty and sparking Hamlet’s bitterness. Ambiguous in her motivations, Gertrude appears to be caught between political expediency and maternal care, adding layers to the themes of betrayal, duty, and the complexity of personal relationships in the play.