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Hamlet

Chapter 2: Dramatis Personæ

By William Shakespeare

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About This Book

A young prince is visited by his father's ghost, who accuses the new ruler of murder and demands vengeance. Tormented by doubt, the prince adopts an appearance of madness and stages a theatrical trap to expose guilt, while court surveillance and schemes produce escalating misreadings and violence: an accidental killing, the descent into madness and death of a beloved woman, and a plotted duel with a poisoned weapon. The narrative traces themes of revenge, uncertainty, appearance versus reality, and mortality within a corrupt court, concluding in multiple deaths and the arrival of outside forces that bring the royal household to ruin.

Contents

ACT I

Scene I. Elsinore. A platform before the Castle

Scene II. Elsinore. A room of state in the Castle

Scene III. A room in Polonius’s house

Scene IV. The platform

Scene V. A more remote part of the Castle

ACT II

Scene I. A room in Polonius’s house

Scene II. A room in the Castle

ACT III

Scene I. A room in the Castle

Scene II. A hall in the Castle

Scene III. A room in the Castle

Scene IV. Another room in the Castle

ACT IV

Scene I. A room in the Castle

Scene II. Another room in the Castle

Scene III. Another room in the Castle

Scene IV. A plain in Denmark

Scene V. Elsinore. A room in the Castle

Scene VI. Another room in the Castle

Scene VII. Another room in the Castle

ACT V

Scene I. A churchyard

Scene II. A hall in the Castle

Dramatis Personæ

HAMLET, Prince of Denmark
CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle
The GHOST of the late king, Hamlet’s father
GERTRUDE, the Queen, Hamlet’s mother, now wife of Claudius
POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain
LAERTES, Son to Polonius
OPHELIA, Daughter to Polonius
HORATIO, Friend to Hamlet
FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway
VOLTEMAND, Courtier
CORNELIUS, Courtier
ROSENCRANTZ, Courtier
GUILDENSTERN, Courtier
MARCELLUS, Officer
BARNARDO, Officer
FRANCISCO, a Soldier
OSRIC, Courtier
REYNALDO, Servant to Polonius
Players
A Gentleman, Courtier
A Priest
Two Clowns, Grave-diggers
A Captain
English Ambassadors.
Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and Attendants

SCENE. Elsinore.