The major characters in Hamlet can be divided into three family groups:
· The Hamlet group
· Hamlet Sr., who has been dead two months when the play opens
· Hamlet Jr., a university student who returns home for his father's funeral
· Gertrude, the widow of Hamlet Sr., who is now married to Claudius, her dead husband's brother
· Claudius, Hamlet Jr.'s uncle and now his stepfather
· The Polonius family
· Polonius, The Lord Chamberlin, the King's advisor
· Laertes, Polonius' son
· Ophelia, Polonius' daughter and Hamlet's former sweetheart
· The Fortinbras family
· Fortinbras Sr., killed in battle by Hamlet Sr.
· Fortinbras Jr., the king's son
· Old Norway, brother of Fortinbras Sr., and uncle to Fortinbras Jr.