Prince Hamlet

Prince Hamlet is the main character in William Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet. He is the Prince of Denmark and the son of the old King Hamlet, who was the rightful king before he was killed.

At the start of the story, Prince Hamlet is trying to decide if and how he should get revenge for his father's death. This decision makes him feel very confused and worried.

As the play goes on, Hamlet ends up causing trouble for many people. He is involved in events that lead to the deaths of several characters, including Polonius, Laertes, and Claudius. He also plays a part in the sad and accidental deaths of Ophelia, whom he loved, and his own mother, Gertrude. Through all these events, Hamlet’s struggle to do what he thinks is right shows the deep emotions and tough choices people sometimes face.

Role in the play

The story begins with Prince Hamlet feeling very sad because his father, King Hamlet, has died. His uncle Claudius has become the new king and married Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. One night, King Hamlet’s ghost appears and tells Hamlet that Claudius killed him to take the throne and wants Hamlet to get revenge.

Hamlet tries to find out if Claudius is really the murderer. He asks some actors to perform a play about a king’s murder in front of Claudius. When Claudius sees the play, he becomes very upset, which makes Hamlet believe the ghost is telling the truth. Hamlet later discovers Claudius’s plans to harm him and others. In the end, Hamlet confronts Claudius, and after some events involving poison, Claudius is defeated. Hamlet names Prince Fortinbras from Norway as the next king before he passes away.

Views of Hamlet

There are different ways people see the character of Hamlet. Some think he is trying to find the truth about his father’s death before taking action. Others believe he knows what he should do but keeps hesitating.

Hamlet’s name comes from an old story, and his actions have been interpreted in many ways over time. His character also mirrors many other characters in the story, showing how closely connected all the people in the play are.

Other versions

See also: Cultural references to Hamlet

In the comic book series Kill Shakespeare, Hamlet is the main character. After his ship is attacked, he ends up in England. There, he meets Richard III of England, who tells him he is a special figure from old stories and must find and stop the wizard William Shakespeare. Hamlet sets off on this quest but is chased by assassins sent by Richard and his helper, Iago. Along the way, he is captured by the fool Falstaff, who helps him escape. Though hurt by Iago, Hamlet is rescued by Juliet Capulet and Othello. He stops Othello from harming Iago but is taken captive by Juliet and her group. Hamlet then runs into the woods where he faces the ghost of his father. He defeats the ghost and is later found by two travellers: Lysander and Demetrius.