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Now and then character analysis
The stronger character analysis
Now and then character analysis
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Some of the most influential people in life are the ones that are only there for a short period or even a moment. This is shown in the play, Hamlet, by the character Fortinbras. Fortinbras is only mentioned in Acts one through four and does not even make a physical appearance until the fifth act. Despite the lack of appearance, Fortinbras has a big reputation and functions as a foil of young Hamlet. He is everything that Hamlet isn't. Fortinbras affects many attributes of the play and shapes the overall theme off it, creating the story it is today.
During the play, both Fortinbras’ and Hamlet’s fathers are killed and are under the rule of another family member. Despite all this, Fortinbras is a man of action while Hamlet is not. This adds a sense of variety in the story, showing you what Hamlet could be. In Act 5 Scene 2 Hamlet says, “On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice; So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,Which have solicited. The rest is silence.” This shows that Hamlet trusts Fortinbras to hold the throne, thus showing Hamlet’s thoughts that Fortinbras can carry out actions while he can not. Also, Fortinbras is very bold and hot-headed. He was going to get revenge and he was set on it, until someone told him not too. Unlike Fortinbras, Hamlet has to wait and think.
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In the play, Fortinbras lack of physical appearance allows the readers to focus of the royal family in Denmark, with the subtle undertones of Fortinbras’ presence.
Even though he is not there it hints that he is lurking around waiting to invade (Shakespeare). For example, Fortinbras army happens to be marching through Denmark for a minuscule part of Poland. This allows the readers to come to conclusions on there own, always remembering he is there. Then, in Act 5 Scene 2, Fortinbras shows up, showing that he was near, and takes the Danish throne which Hamlet gave him in his last words to Horatio. Even though he was only there for 1 scene , he accomplished a
lot. In conclusion, even though a character might not be there for long time, he or she can make a big influence on how the story plays out. Fortinbras was not there for a long time but he played a major role and influence many of the characters. He made you think, and was an exact opposite of what Hamlet was. It gave you a different side to the story and made it the great play we know it as today.
It is to my belief that William Shakespeare intended the seventeenth century audiences to see Hamlet's ostensibly excessive planning as a negative feature of his character beca... ... middle of paper ... ... society who an excessive amount of time thinking about matters that would benefit most from a prompt reaction. Evidence for this becomes apparent at the end of the play when many of the characters (including Hamlet) die due to this particular trait; had Hamlet killed the king sooner, he would not have slain Laertes who would not have killed him, Ophelia would not have committed suicide and Gertrude would not have been poisoned. Fortinbras is a direct contrast to Hamlet as he has a much more 'direct' style of leadership.
In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the character of Fortinbras, has been used as a foil for the main character, Hamlet. Hamlet and Fortinbras have lost their fathers to untimely deaths. Claudius killed Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, and King Hamlet killed Fortinbras' father. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras have vowed to seek revenge for the deaths of their fathers. Since the revenge tactics of Hamlet and Fortinbras are completely different, Hamlet perceives the actions of Fortinbras as better than his own and the actions of Fortinbras, then, encourage Hamlet to act without hesitating.
A foil is a minor character that helps the audience better understand a major character. A foil may exist as a comparison character, with similarities between the two, as well as differences that bring to light an important contrast between the foil and the main character. A foil may also just be someone for the main character to talk to, so we can know and understand their thoughts and feelings. Foils help us understand the obvious as well as the arcane. In the classic tragedy Hamlet, we see William Shakespeare employ foils to illustrate both examples. They become important literary tools that help the reader rationalize the concurrent theme of the play - deceit.
As is hinted throughout the play, the state of Denmark has become corrupt. Marcellus' famous quote "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark"(Act 1, 5:90) is complemented by various other observations. "...tis an unweeded garden,"(Act 1, 2:134) and "our state to be disjoint and out of frame,"(Act 1, 2:20). In Elizabethan times it was generally thought that a monarch had to have rightful claim to the throne, lest the state descend into chaos. Fortinbras is essential to this overlying story line, as he is fundamental to the resolution of the corruption. The overlying story line is to make what was bad become good, and thus a complete resolution is needed. Fortinbras is instrumental in this resolution: as the only nobleman left to claim the throne rightfully, Hamlet bequeaths not only the land that Old Fortinbras lost, but also the state of Denmark. Hence Fortinbras attains what he had vowed to avenge, and the play comes full circle. All that made the state of Denmark rotten, all those involved with the corruption, are now dead hence the overlying story plot is fully resolved.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a well known play. Shakespeare uses foils in Hamlet to further create and explain Hamlet’s character. Foils are created in a play to help the audience better understand a major character by giving the character someone to talk to and compare the major character to. [Using the definition as the thesis was not a good idea in this paper. The assignment said not in the first paragraph, i.e., the paper was to be about how foils affect the meaning of this play.]
Hamlet, the major character in the Shakespeare play of the same name, was faced with a decision upon learning that Claudius murdered his father. Should he believe the ghost, and avenge his father's murder? Or is the ghost evil, trying to coerce him into killing Claudius? Throughout the play, we see Hamlet's struggle with this issue. Many opportunities arise for him to kill Claudius, but he is unable to act because he cannot convince himself to believe the Ghost. Shakespeare uses Laertes and Fortinbras as foils to Hamlet, in order to help us understand why Hamlet acts the way he does.
The relation between these two characters is a lot like the juxtaposition with Hamlet and Laertes. Just like Hamlet and Laertes, Fortinbras’ father, King Fortinbras, was also killed but the way he died was in a battle with King Hamlet. Hamlet and Fortinbras’ circumstances are almost identical. Their fathers were both murdered, both their uncles are on the throne and they are both princes of their countries. Revenge is the motive for both of these princes because of their dead fathers, but the way and the reason they seek it is extremely different. Hamlet wants revenge because the ghost of his father told him to and Fortinbras wants revenge to reclaim the land that his father lost when he died. Fortinbras is more focused on the honour of his country, Norway, but all Hamlet cares about is killing his fathers murderer. Hamlet’s morals slow down the process of his revenge whereas Fortinbras’ firm attitude makes him act faster. Hamlet later develops some jealously towards Fortinbras, he says, “Rightly to be great/Is not to stir without great argument/But greatly to find quarrel in a straw/When honor’s at the stake” (Shakespeare 4.4.53-56). Hamlet is saying that if Fortinbras is taking such quick action for a little bit of land that means nothing then what does that make Hamlet? He says in order for him to be great like Fortinbras he must take violent action. Hamlet and Fortinbras are both equally rebellious
Foils are minor characters, that through similarities and differences, set off or accent the main characters of a play. There is a strong connection between the foils in a play and one's final perception of the main characters. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, there is a continuous shifting of the main character's emotions. These emotions range anywhere from madness and rage to grief and sorrow. In Hamlet there is a foil that represents each emotion and behavior that is displayed by the main character- Hamlet.
In Hamlet, Shakespeare introduces us to Fortinbras and Hamlet. Both characters are bent on avenging the death of their fathers who were murdered. In Act I, two different revenge plots by these two men are revealed, and while Fortinbras is very open and bold about killing Claudius, Hamlet is sly and quiet about his plan. Fortinbras is also dead set on attacking Denmark no matter what but Hamlet is indecisive about killing Claudius. Fortinbras plans to lead an army to attack Denmark while Hamlet’s plan of attack is to act crazy.
The character of Hamlet is very prestigious, but he has many shortcomings. In many cases, he shows that he is all words and no action. He waits until the very last minute to take a course of action. Hamlet realizes this, and he wishes that he had the characteristics of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Horatio.
So said Fortinbras, the king of Norway, who after Hamlet’s death, took to the throne of Denmark “with sorrow”(Ham. 5. 2. 389). Despite the scene of carnage that he was greeted with as he entered the castle of Elsinore, Fortinbras believed that Hamlet, had he lived would have been a good king. Was Fortinbras correct? After all, the king of Norway knew nothing of Hamlet’s character, other than Horatio’s earnest promise to relate the story of the scene before them. Was his observation sincere, or was it merely an idle comment, meant to comfort Horatio at the death of his friend and occupation of his country? Would Hamlet, indeed, have made a good king?
Prince Fortinbras and Prince Hamlet have both lost their fathers. Through recent developments, Hamlet was visited by his father's ghost who reveals the truth of his murder and demands Hamlet to avenge his death. Assuring his revenge, he later protests what a “cursed spite that ever [he] was born to set it right” (Shakespeare I.v.210-211). Not only does he put aside what he must do, but compared to Fortinbras, he acts like a coward; perhaps not wanting to murder, perhaps not wanting to get murdered, Hamlet allows for King Claudius to keep wearing a crown that does not belong to him, but rightfully to Hamlet, heir to King Hamlet. Fortinbras, on the other hand, without being told what to do, “hath not failed to pester” Denmark in regards to “the
Hamlet and Fortinbras are both heirs to their select thrones, but both are denied their position. In fact, both Hamlet’s uncle and Fortinbras’ uncle take their position as king instead. Even though their situations are different, this only brings more similarities and differences to light. For instance, one difference between Hamlet and Fortinbras is their ambition. Fortinbras takes action with force and promptness. In the beginning of the play, Fortinbras is already “holding a weak supposal of [Denmark’s] worth” (1.2.18) and he believes that the death of Hamlet’s father has left Denmark “disjoint and out of frame” (1.2.20). Hamlet, on the other hand, overthinks and talks himself out of taking action, like when he is about to kill Claudius. When Hamlet has the chance to kill Claudius he changes his mind and says, “Why this is hire and salary, not revenge” (3.3.79); he talks himself out of the act and becomes sluggish. However, both Hamlet and Fortinbras are not respected by their uncles, and this parallel and others lead the reader to a greater perception of the
Fortinbras, son of the slain King of Norway, is the first to seek revenge. Although King Hamlet, the now deceased King of Denmark, held sole responsibility for the death of King Fortinbras, young Prince Fortinbras seeks vengeance toward the entire country of Denmark. Horatio, a friend of Hamlet?s, said, ?As it doth well appear unto our state, but to recover of us by strong hand and terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands so by his father lost?? (I.i.101-104). By this, Horatio is saying Fortinbras plans to forcefully regain the land King Hamlet took from King Fortinbras. Fortunately, King Claudius, the new King of Denmark, intervenes and sends two courtiers, Cornelius and Voltemand, to Norway in hopes of convincing the new King of Norway, Fortinbras? uncle, to prevent the attack. Upon hearing the message, Fortinbras? uncle vetoes Fortinbras? plan to wage war on Denmark. However, he encourages Fortinbras ?to employ his anger, against the Polack? in order to vent his rage (II.ii.74-75). After taking the advice of his uncle, Fortinbras additionally ?makes vow before his uncle never more to have th? assay of arms against your majesty,? (II.ii.70-71). This intervention could be what saves Fortinbras? life. With the counseling of his uncle, Fortinbras is able to put aside his longing to settle the score for his father?s murder. In the end, he is greatly rewarded.
Revenge has caused the downfall of many a person. Its consuming nature causes one to act recklessly through anger rather than reason. Revenge is an emotion easily rationalized; one turn deserves another. However, this is a very dangerous theory to live by. Throughout Hamlet, revenge is a dominant theme. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet all seek to avenge the deaths of their fathers. But in so doing, all three rely more on emotion than thought, and take a very big gamble, a gamble which eventually leads to the downfall and death of all but one of them. King Fortinbras was slain by King Hamlet in a sword battle. This entitled King Hamlet to the land that was possessed by Fortinbras because it was written in a seal'd compact. "…our valiant Hamlet-for so this side of our known world esteem'd him-did slay this Fortinbras." Young Fortinbras was enraged by his father’s murder and sought revenge against Denmark. He wanted to reclaim the land that had been lost to Denmark when his father was killed. "…Now sir, young Fortinbras…as it doth well appear unto our state-but to recover of us, by strong hand and terms compulsative, those foresaid lands so by his father lost…" Claudius becomes aware of Fortinbras’ plans, and in an evasive move, sends a message to the new King of Norway, Fortinbras’ uncle.