James L’Angelle
University of Nevada, Reno
Dr. A. Keniston
07 Dec 2019
Rank and Privilege: The Role of Minor Characters in Hamlet
Ordered by rank, players in the Shakespearean drama appear and disappear frequently and otherwise. Those whos have a direct place in the story are considered "major" players. Those who have auxiliary roles might be considered "intermediate" players; the rest have "minor" roles. Many of the so-called minor players have little rank, such as the castle guards Barnardo, Francisco and Marcellus. However, they assume a great deal of privilege as being the first to be introduced into the play and vital to the development of the plot.
As (so-and-so) says in his/her critique of minor characters, the blah-blah-blah are.....whatever.
cite criticism & insert content from the play.
By order of rank:
Major:
Hamlet-the star, Claudius-king, Gertrude-queen, Ophelia-daughter of Polonius, Laertes-son of Polonius, The Ghost-murdered Dane king
Intermediate:
Polonius-king counselor, Horatio-Hamlet confidante, Fortinbras-prince of Norway, Rosencrantz-king confidante, Guildenstern-king confidante
Minor:
Barnardo-sentinel, Marcellus-sentinel, Francisco-sentinel, The Players-The Mousetrap
The Sailor-a pirate, Ambassador-England, Captain-of Fortinbras, Osric-buffoon, Gravediggers, Pirate(s)-, Reynaldo-Polonius servant, Cornelius -ambassador to Norway, Voltemand-ambassador to Norway
Source Hamlet, Shakespeare, W., Norton & Co., NY, 2019