The Northmanbrings to life history an geezerhood - old tale of revenge and betrayal as the Norse warrior Amleth vow to gain   revenge against his uncle who murdered his father and married his female parent . As he enter upon his quest , Amleth number across many friends and enemy , who each affect the consequence of his sprightliness ’s work .

While , for many , the tale ofThe Northmanmight seem marque - Modern , it really draws on an ancient legend from which many like tales have been tell , include the Graeco-Roman Shakespeare playHamlet . As such , many of the personalities Amleth come across along the manner fall into the same characterizations as in Shakespeare ’s famous turn .

Finnr And Hallgrimr - Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Finnr and Hallgrimir are the humble housecarls of   Fjölnir , who assist their master in murder his crony . These two fail in their obligation , however , when it come to kill the young Amleth , who escapes after removing Finnr ’s nose . In the end , it is this dyad ’s nonstarter thatstrikes the lucifer on Amleth ’s revenge .

This pair of collaborator stick out some resemblance to the bodge dyad of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern , the former friends of Hamlet who are order by the king to kill the prince on a ocean trip to England . However , much like the mighty Amleth , Hamlet send off his would - be assassins and live to fight back another solar day .

Seeress - Ghost Of Hamlet I

Björk revert to the acting vista for the first time in over a tenner to work the mysterious prophetess that commit Amleth on his missionary post of retaliation , known only as the Seeress . This character ’s origin is never explain , but her function prove to be vitally important , as she is the one who finally reveals to Amleth that his time for payback has amount .

In the caption of Amleth , the Seeress fills the same function as the ghost does in the first act ofHamlet . In Shakespeare ’s tragedy , the titular hero face the ghost of his Fatherhood , who reveals to him the truth behind his own death , igniting the spark of retaliation that leads to the consequence of the next acts of the play .

Harald Of Norway - Fortinbras

An unseen character inThe Northmanis also an improbably authoritative one . In a agile line of talks between Amleth and a fellow soldier , it is uncover that the land that had once comprise Aurvandil ’s kingdom was lost short after   Fjölnir took over , involve by the more potent Harald of Norway .

Much like King Harald , Fortinbras is more of a presence felt throughout his respective tale rather than a legitimate character . He is the hulk peril that threatens to take away the land of the chief cast . Unlike Harald , however , Fortinbras does arrive by the play ’s end , if only to find the scatter physical structure of the royal family strewn across the stage .

Aurdvandil - Hamlet I

Ethan Hawke portraysone ofThe Northman’sbravest characters , King Aurvandil , War - Raven . Aurvandil is the father of Amleth who is murdered before his son ’s very eyes and has his country stolen by his own blood brother . Though appearing in only a select number of scenes , Aurvandil is indeed one of the most crucial characters in the intact film .

Aurvandil is a clear parallel to Hamlet I , the father of the titular friend in Shakespeare’sHamlet . Though Hamlet the elder is never seen live in the manoeuvre ( his only appearing is in ghost form ) , he bet a pivotal role in his boy ’s ontogeny , as his slaying at the men of his brother Cornelius is the wrongfulness that the younger Hamlet must right to achieve justice .

Thorir - Laertes

Thorir the Proud is the cousin of Amleth and boy of   Fjölnir who , much like his rubric implies , has a in particular high view of himself , even if he has not the skill to back up such a lofty attitude . Thorir is the first of   Fjölnir ’s crime syndicate upon whom revenge is enacted , as Amleth murders him in his sleep .

Thorir bears some resemblance to the character of Laertes inHamlet . Both characters are immature and hotheaded , eager to use ferocity as the answer to any perceived injustice . Thorir and Laertes each vow to avenge fall do it single after they find them beat , a path that moderate both of them to die at the hands of the Italian sandwich . Unlike Laertes , however , Thorir is ineffective to take his foeman Amleth with him in death .

Heimir - Polonius

Heimir the Fool , as play by Willem Dafoe , is the fool in the courtyard of King Aurvandil . He is a loyal retainer to the world-beater and his family , who also dabble in the Norse mysticism of the day . After   Fjölnir takes rulership of the realm , Heimir is excruciate and executed , though he does verbalize with Amleth from beyond the grave accent in ordering to manoeuver him to the sword with which he will take his retaliation .

Heimir resembles the character of Polonius , the bodge " judicious military personnel " of Cornelius ’s royal court . While Heimir is meant to be an friend and friend to Amleth , Polonius is quite the opposition , whose false platitudes encourage Cornelius ’s hunting for his nephew . Despite this differentiation , both are presented as the " tomfool " of their respective courtyard , albeit in very different way .

Olga - Ophelia

Olga of the Birch Forest , run by Anya Taylor - Joy , isone of the most level-headed character inThe Northman . She is a sorceress   who encounter Amleth along the trip to   Fjölnir ’s farmplace , ally herself with the hero to serve him revenge his founder ’s death . She finally falls in love with Amleth , actuate a romanticism that would end in calamity at her lover ’s demise .

Taylor - Joy ’s character is most similar to Ophelia from Shakespeare ’s gambol . Both are the champion ’s main sexual love interest who is cross up in their quest for vengeance . There rest an of import note between the two characters , however , as Ophelia obtain herself becoming as much a victim of Hamlet ’s rage ( albeit accidentally on Hamlet ’s part ) , whereas Olga becomes an alive player who get by the floor ’s outcome with her life .

Gudrún - Gertrude

Nicole Kidman diddle her part inmakingThe Northmanone of 2022 ’s best films so far , lending her talent to the theatrical role of Queen Gudrún . The tabby is the widow woman of King Aurvandil and mother to Amleth who is accept as Fjölnir ’s wife after he clutch his brother ’s realm . It is later revealed that she orchestrated the intact betrayal , as her spunk had always been with   Fjölnir .

The clear analogue for Kidman ’s regal character is Queen Gertrude , the mother of Hamlet who marries her sidekick - in - law after her husband ’s last . Unlike   Gudrún , however , Gertrude is not limn as a villain , but as a benevolent victim of Cornelius ’s manipulations , unaware of his machinations until it is too previous . Despite their unclouded divergence in moral , both characters lose their liveliness by the level ’s remnant , Gertrude by the poison meant for her son and   Gudrún from a wound sustained in battle with Amleth .

Fjölnir - Claudius

Fjölnir is the usurper of Aurvandil ’s can and the principal target of Amleth ’s revenge . Years after seize everything that had once belonged to his brother , include his married woman ,   Fjölnir begin to find that some unknown force is likely haunting his farm-place , finally learning that the nephew he believe to be idle has returned .

Fjölnir is clearly mean to resemble the character of Cornelius , Hamlet ’s uncle who usurped the potty of his blood brother and splice his widow . Much like   Fjölnir , Cornelius plots to kill his nephew after the young man becomes privy to his misbehavior . Both characters manage to organise the demise of their vengeful nephew , but not before losing their own lives in the process .

Amleth - Hamlet

Alexander   Skarsgård play the fabled hero Amleth , the escaped child of   Fjölnir ’s secret plan of betrayal that returns as an adult to set things correct . Making allies along the way , Amleth must also reflect the virtue of his quest and whether revenge is really deserving his life .

by from the similarity   in name , Amleth and Hamlet bear many resemblances in character and story , as both are based on the same legend . These two booster quest for bloody vengeance against their traitorous uncles , only to later ponder the mysteries of fate and mortality rate itself as they approach their goal . In the end , each retaliate his slain male parent , only to lose his aliveness in the cognitive operation .

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Alexander Skarsgard in dark room as Amleth in The Northman; Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet in wide open room

The Northman masked soldiers

Bjork as Seeress and Patrick Stewart as Ghost of Hamlet I

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The Northman: Ethan Hawke as Aurvandill, about to die, with two arrows in his chest

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Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga; Kate Winslet as Ophelia

Nicole Kidman as Gudrun; Penny Downie as Gertrude

Claes Bang as Fjolnir in the Northman; Patrick Stewart as Claudius

Alexander Skarsgard as Amleth in the Northman; Kenneth Branaugh as Hamlet

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The Northman