Ranking Characters in Hamlet

Hamlet Characters in Order of Defiance

1.       Hamlet: It is no secret that Hamlet is bold and defiant. The title of the play is his name after all. In the first act alone, Hamlet sits outside with Horatio and talks about how he thinks his stepfather is a fool and his mother is wrong for rushing to marry her dead husbands bother. From there, Hamlet’s whole motivation is to devoid anything anyone asks of him and to negate or completely ignore peoples wishes or commands. He also plots the entire play to kill Claudius, completely defying his superior.

2.       Polonius: Polonius really does not listen to anyone in the play. He orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to watch over his son while he has at school-going so far as to spread lies about him and see if he is actually doing those things. He also makes Ophelia not go through with being with Hamlet. He makes people do what he wants them to do and will not let people be defiant of him, only he himself is allowed to be.

3.       The Ghost: The Ghost really does not have a huge role except when he comes in contact with Hamlet. He is defying the supernatural forces in visiting his son and instructing him to murder and avenge Claudius. It is still unclear as to whether the apparition is real or just Hamlet’s imagination, but either it way its powers are very present.

4.       Fortinbras: Even though Fortinbras is the pit of jokes, he is clearly defiant of Hamlet’s kingdom. He is vengeful of his father’s death and wants to get back at King Hamlet and take the throne of Denmark. He takes his army up to the Hamlet’s castle to fight a bloody war over a name of a country and not even the throne, that was another part of his plan.

5.       Laertes: Though Laertes complies with the orders of his father when going off to school, he is so willing fully ready to defy the throne in killing whoever killed his father Polonius. This revenge is caused by honest disdain and remorse and may not be his original goal in the beginning of the play.

6.       Claudius: Claudius is defiant mainly to Hamlet and the throne of Denmark. He knows that he can take the throne and royally goes against the proper conformity associated with the Denmark monarchy. His defiance is more internal and not as profound and prominent as Hamlet’s or Polonius.

7.       Ophelia: Like her brother, Ophelia is mostly defiant after her father dies. She is still innocent and obedient both before and after his death. She defies Gertrude when she tries to figure out what is wrong with her and trying to make her feel better.  It is unclear whether it is defiance or just sheer sadness.

8.       Gertrude: Gertrude complies with the social conformity that is around her. She follows what she believes is right as a queen, as a mother, and as a wife. She really wants to fix things that go wrong on the play and pretty much wants to please everyone which in the end does not fix anything.

9.       Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: The two comrades are the most loyal characters probably throughout the play. Their willingness to follow orders inevitably leads to their own demise.

10.   Horatio: Horatio is also the most loyal and obedient character although he does not receive anything in return. He eventually tells Fortinbras about his new role in Denmark and is satisfied with his order from his late friend, Hamlet.