Characters

* Hamlet, the title character, is the son of the late king, for whom he was named. He has returned to Elsinore Castle from Wittenberg, where he was studying.

* Claudius is the King of Denmark, elected to the throne after the death of his brother, King Hamlet. Claudius has married Gertrude, his brother's widow.

* Gertrude is the Queen of Denmark, and King Hamlet's widow, now married to Claudius.

* Ophelia is Polonius's daughter, and Laertes's sister, who lives with her father at Elsinore Castle.

* Horatio is a good friend of Hamlet, from the university at Wittenberg, who came to Elsinore Castle to attend King Hamlet's funeral.

* Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are childhood friends and schoolmates of Hamlet, who were summoned to Elsinore by Claudius and Gertrude.

* Fortinbras is the nephew of old King Norway. He is also the son of Fortinbras Sr, who was killed in single combat by Hamlet's father.

* Marcellus, Barnardo, and Francisco are sentinels who help guard Elsinore Castle.

* Voltemand and Cornelius are ambassadors King Claudius sends to old King Norway.

* Reynaldo is Polonius's servant. (This character is called "Montano" in the First Quarto.)

* First Player in a company of Players who arrive at Elsinore, who plays the King, Gonzago, in the Play Scene. (The stage directions referr to the part he plays as "Player King", but Hamlet refers to the character as a Duke).

* Other Players of the Players' company include a boy who plays the Queen, Baptista, and actors playing the roles of Lucianus and the Prolouge.

* a Captain in Fortinbras's army.

* a Gentleman attending Gertrude.

* Messengers

* Switzers who are Claudius's bodyguards.

* Ladies in waiting to Queen Gertrude

* Townspeople who are followers of Laertes.

* Sailors (are actually two pirates.)

* Two Clowns, Gravediggers.

* Yorick, is an unseen character remembered by Hamlet in Act 5.

* A Priest

* Osric, a courtier. (Originally named "Ostricke" in the Second Quarto.)
* The English Ambassador

* Various Courtiers, Servants, players, musicians, soldiers.