Hamlet: who's who, timeline and places
Everyone in Hamlet, what happens when, and where, without spoilers: tell us how far you have read and we show only what you already know.
- HamletYoung Hamlet is the person Horatio and the guards agree to tell about the apparition.First seen in scene 1
- HoratioHoratio joins the guards at Elsinore and sees a ghost resembling the dead king.First seen in scene 1
- The GhostThe Ghost resembles the dead king in armor and leaves without answering Horatio.First seen in scene 1
- FortinbrasYoung Fortinbras gathers fighters to recover lands his father lost against Denmark's dead king.First seen in scene 1
- MarcellusMarcellus joins Horatio in investigating the guards' reports of a ghost.First seen in scene 1
- The KingClaudius is the king who marries Gertrude and urges Hamlet to remain at court.First seen in scene 2
- GertrudeGertrude is Hamlet's mother, who marries Claudius and asks Hamlet to moderate his grief.First seen in scene 2
- LaertesLaertes receives permission to return to France with Polonius's consent.First seen in scene 2
- PoloniusPolonius gives his consent for Laertes to return to France.First seen in scene 2
- ReynaldoReynaldo is sent by Polonius to investigate his son through questions and invented accusations.First seen in scene 6
- Rosencrantz and GuildensternRosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet's friends, enlisted by the King and Queen to investigate his troubles.First seen in scene 7
- Scene 1
Horatio sees a ghost resembling the dead king and agrees to tell Hamlet about it.
- Scene 2
Hamlet condemns his mother's quick marriage, then plans to investigate after hearing Horatio's account of the ghost.
- Scene 3
Polonius orders Ophelia to stop speaking with Hamlet, and she agrees to obey.
- Scene 4
Hamlet follows the ghost despite warnings from Horatio and Marcellus.
- Scene 5
The Ghost identifies himself as Hamlet's father, accuses Hamlet's uncle of murder, and demands revenge.
- Scene 6
After hearing about Hamlet's strange visit to Ophelia, Polonius concludes that rejected love causes his behavior.
- Scene 7
Hamlet arranges a play resembling his father's murder to test his uncle's guilt.
- Scene 8
The King and Polonius secretly observe Hamlet rejecting Ophelia, and the King decides to send him to England.
- Scene 9
The King abruptly leaves the poisoning play, strengthening Hamlet's belief in the Ghost's accusation.
- Scene 10
The King admits murdering his brother, while Hamlet postpones killing him because he appears to be praying.
- Scene 11
Hamlet kills Polonius behind a wall hanging while confronting his mother about her marriage.
- Scene 12
Gertrude reports Hamlet's violence, and the King orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to recover Polonius's body.
- Scene 13
Hamlet refuses to reveal the body's location to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, then agrees to meet the King.
- Scene 14
The King sends Hamlet toward England with letters demanding his immediate execution.
- Scene 15
Hamlet questions a captain about fighting for nearly worthless land and condemns his own delayed revenge.
- Scene 16
Ophelia sings confused songs, while Laertes challenges the King over his father's death and secret burial.
- Scene 17
Horatio receives Hamlet's letter describing capture by pirates and agrees to follow the sailors to him.
- Scene 18
The King and Laertes plan to poison Hamlet during fencing, and Gertrude reports Ophelia's drowning.
- Scene 19
Hamlet discovers that the funeral is Ophelia's and struggles with Laertes in her grave.
- Scene 20
The fencing match ends in four deaths, while Horatio survives to explain and Fortinbras claims Denmark.
Hidden until you have read that far.
- ElsinoreElsinore is where Horatio joins the guards and sees the silent apparition.First seen in scene 1
- DenmarkDenmark faces a threat from young Fortinbras, who seeks to recover his father's lost lands.First seen in scene 1
- EnglandEngland is where the King decides to send Hamlet after secretly observing him.First seen in scene 8
- PolandPoland is the destination of an army seeking land of almost no value.First seen in scene 15
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