Shakespeare’s Characters with the Name Alexander

The name Alexander appears in two Shakespearean plays.

Hammlet

• In Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet, a character named Polonius mentions that his son Laertes had previously been named Alexander.
• However, this reference is primarily used for comic effect, highlighting the absurdity and potential rivalry between the name “Alexander” and Polonius’s own name.

Cymbeline

• In Act 1, Scene 2 of Cymbeline, Iachimo boasts that he has slept with Imogen while disguised as Alexander.
• However, this claim is later revealed to be a lie, adding to the comedic tone of the scene.

There are no main characters with the name Alexander in Shakespeare’s plays.