Who's Who? Act V

Okay, so I think that by now we all pretty much know who the main characters are, but I guess I'll describe everyone in at least small detail.

Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, he returns from England after discovering and foiling his uncle's (Claudius, King of Denmark) plan to murder him. His competitive nature causes him to accept Laertes's fencing challenge, which ultimately leads to both of their deaths.

Horatio: Hamlet's dearest friend, a man who is presumably from wealth and schooling. He cares for Hamlet and is always left in charge of Hamlet's well being. In the end, he is the only one who survives to tell of the events that  happened.

Gravedigger: he appears to be a man who thinks that he is quite clever, but he often trips up on his words and his profession makes it somewhat obvious that he is not as smart as he thinks he is. Hamlet is amused by him but also frustrated.

Laertes: son of the late Polonius, who was the King's right hand. He feels that he has been wronged by Hamlet killing his father and is desperate to seek revenge. He and Hamlet have similar qualities and similar compassion, and they end up killing one another in the end.

Claudius: King of Denmark, murdered his brother and then married his widowed wife. Hamlet wishes to avenge his father's death by killing Claudius, and does end up being the one who ends Claudius's life.

Gertrude: Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother. She loves Hamlet and only wants to save him from the madness that has become his life, yet she dies as well, drinking the poisoned wine that Claudius had intended for Hamlet.

Fortinbras: the nephew of the King of Norway and son of the old King of Norway. He attempted to attack Denmark in order to reclaim old lands but was stopped by his uncle. In Hamlet's dying breaths, he suggests that Fortinbras become the new King of Denmark because he admires his passion and persistence.

xoxo, Cantore Slug

Who's Who? Act IV

Characters in Act IV in order (Major Characters)

King: After Hamlet kills Polonius, takes a total 180 degree turn in character from repenting from the murder of King Hamlet and condemns Hamlet for killing Polonius.

Queen: The queen is distraught after seeing her son murder Polonius in cold blood and is apprehensive to talk to Ophelia because she gone a bit crazy.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: these two characters still do the kings bidding, spying on Hamlet and such, they carry the letter that will order Hamlets execution in England.

Hamlet: Same old Hamlet still, trying to choose the perfect time to kill his uncle, but while he waits, everything around him starts to crumble.

Fortinbras: Briefly mentioned, Fortinbras marches to take his fathers worthless lost land, even the soldiers question why they are taking this infertile land for Norway.

Horatio: Hamlet's right hand man, he silently questions he Hamlet is still sane.

Ophelia: Ophelia one a respectable and  independent woman, is now mad after going through the ordeal of her fathers death. Ophelia, ultimately mad with grief drowns herself in a creek.

Laertes: After hearing news of his fathers death he hastily returns to Denmark with a small rebellion to seek retribution from the King, the King promptly explains the situation to Laertes and gets him back on his side.

-Spencer

Who's Who??? Act III

                                                                                                                      
Hamlet-In Act III, Hamlet's plan to expose Claudius is going into swing. Hamlet considers the possibility of committing suicide and has some harsh words with Ophelia in scene I. In scene II, Hamlet puts on the play where he gets essentially the desired reaction from the King. Then Hamlet has an opportunity to get revenge on Claudius in scene III but does not do so because he believes that if Claudius were to be killed at that exact moment, he would go to heaven. This demonstrates exactly what kind of revenge Hamlet is out for. Finally, Hamlet goes to his mother's chamber in scene IV where he confronts her about King Hamlets death, once again sees his ghost, and kills Polonius who is listening in.

Claudius- The King still thinks Hamlet is mad, and after watching the play, begins to worry what effect Hamlet's madness will have on him. Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England to hopefully get over whatever mental issue he is "suffering" from. The King does finally express some guilt for his murder after viewing the play when describing the severity of his sin.

Gertrude- Gertrude calls Hamlet to her chamber and questions him, upon the advice of Polonius, about his recent behavior. Hamlet tells his mother that his madness is no worse than what she did. She cannot see the ghost of King Hamlet when it enters the room, and believes that Hamlet was simply talking to the air. 

Ophelia- Ophelia is constantly insulted by Hamlet, who completely disregards any relationship that they had, even denying having given her any token of his love.

Polonius- Polonius is still trying to discover what is making Hamlet behave so strangely, but as he is hiding in Gertrude's room listening in to a conversation between she and Hamlet, Hamlet stabs him through a curtain. He dies. Finally.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern- These two are still working for the King and will supposedly escort Hamlet to England. Hamlet does not trust them and believes they will be loyal to the King.

Horatio- Horatio and Hamlet discuss the King's behavior during the play and determine that it was unusual and exposed his guilt. 
 
                                                                               -Sam Slug




                                                                              

Who's Who?

In order of appearance:

• Polonius - Laertes' and Ophelia's father; is concerned that Hamlet's sadness and weird actions are caused by Ophelia's forced lack of interest in him; he reveals to Claudius and Gertrude why Hamlet is so upset and comes up with a plan to prove to them that Hamlet lusts after Ophelia; talks way too much
• Reynaldo - Polonius' servant; is sent to Paris to spy on Laertes' personal life
• Ophelia - Hamlet's "lover;" is forced by her father to ignore Hamlet 
• King Claudius - Hamlet's uncle/step father; murdered King Hamlet by way of poison; agrees with Polonius to try his plan; still unaware that Hamlet knows the truth
• Queen Gertrude - widow/Hamlet's mother; concerned of Hamlet's strange mood; seems pretty oblivious as far as a mother goes
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - friends of Hamlet; are sent by the king and queen to investigate Hamlet's strange mood 
• Voltemand and Cornelius - ambassadors; reveal to the king and queen that Fortinbras will no longer call war on Denmark, but is instead suggested to use his army to attack the Poles; request that Fortinbras' army allowed safe passage through Denmark to get to the Poles.   
• Hamlet - Prince of Denmark; still upset about his father's death and seems to be confused as to whether to kill his uncle, possibly because he is unsure whether the ghost is good or bad and doesn't want to go to hell if it is a bad ghost; is upset over the fact that an actor can portray more emotion in a character that he doesn't even connect with, but he is unable to take action about Claudius; he devises a plan to have Claudius watch a play closely resembled to what Claudius did to King Hamlet to prove he murdered his brother; bitter over his lack of vengeance. 

xoxo, Kara

Who's Who Act 1
Lee Sims
Bernardo and Marcellus: Two guards that witness the apparition of the deceased King of Denmark, Hamlet's father.
Horatio: Hamlet's close friend; Horatio chooses to reveal to Hamlet that his father has appeared to the guards and knows that the ghost will only talk with Hamlet.
Queen Gertrude: Obviously, Hamlet's mother and widow of the deceased King. I.ii opens with the celebration of Gertrude's hasty marriage with her brother-in-law, Claudius. The audience then learns of Hamlet's devastation over his mother's marriage; Hamlet is angered by the fact that his mother so quickly overcame her grief and appeared to show no affection for her lost husband.
Kind Claudius: Hamlet's uncle and now step-father. Claudius seems to be very full of himself and is extremely cunning. He is the murderer of King Hamlet and used Gertrude to become the King.
Hamlet: Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark and is still very grief-stricken at the opening of I.ii. Hamlet appears to be somewhat reserved and dejected around the castle, especially around his mother and step-father. Also, Hamlet is rightfully angered by his mother's speedy marriage and delivers a soliloquy that reveals to the audience that Hamlet, at this point, wishes for nothing but death.
Laertes: Polonious' son and Ophelia's brother; Laertes is leaving for France when he gives his sister a lecture about avoiding romantic entanglements with Hamlet because Hamlet will never marry her because she isn't royal.
Ophelia: Polonious' daughter and Laertes' sister. Ophelia is Hamlet's lover and she takes her brothers advice about Hamlet with little attentiveness. Ophelia seems to be very naive about her relationship with Hamlet, which could end up leading her down a terrible path.
Polonious: Father of both Laertes and Ophelia; he seems to be very pompous and self-righteous.
Fortinbras: The Prince of Norway, wishing to take back land from Denmark.
The Ghost: The ghost of the dead King Hamlet; this ghost appears to tell Hamlet how he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius. Hamlet reacts to this with anger but he is also suspicious of the ghost's motives.