Hamlet vs. Fortinbras

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Hamlet vs Fortinbras

HAMLET AND FORTINBRAS

In Hamlet the character of Fortinbras, a young Norwegian

prince, has been used as a foil for the main character Hamlet,

the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet and Fortinbras have both lost

their fathers to untimely deaths. Hamlet's father, King Hamlet,

was killed by his uncle Claudius and Fortinbras' father was

killed by King Hamlet. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras have vowed to

take revenge for the deaths of their fathers. However, how they

go about doing this is the complete opposite of the other.

Hamlet, after learning that his father's death was murder

and promising to take revenge, waits and makes sure that what he

knows is the absolute truth before he even attempts to take

revenge on Claudius. Even after Hamlet is sure beyond any doubts

that Claudius is the murderer, he hesitates to kill him.

Fortinbras, however, has been taking action even before the play

begins. As the play opens, we learn that Denmark is in a state

of alert. The audience learns that the country has been pre-

paring for a war, and from Horatio, the they also learn that the

young Fortinbras is getting ready his "lawless resolutes" for

action against Denmark for the killing of his father and for the

return of lands previously owned by Norway, (Hamlet I.i. 79-107)

These differences between Hamlet's and Fortinbras' action are

further mentioned in Hamlet's last soliloquy, (Hamlet IV.iv. 32-66)

Before the soliloquy begins, Hamlet has been informed by one

of Fortinbras's Captains that Norway is preparing to fight

Poland over a "little patch of land", and that twenty thousand

men are willing to f...

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...hat moment on, all he will think about is his revenge

against anyone that has committed any injustice towards him. He

says "O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be

nothing more " (65-66)

Hamlet's personality is clear to the reader for the last

time in the play. He is contrasted against another Prince who is

the exact opposite of him in the same situation. By this, the

reader learns more about Hamlet's characteristics and the way he

thinks. Also, here Hamlet has finally made a decision on what to

do. He has made up his mind to have only bloody thoughts instead

of ones that are well thought out. Fortinbras' pursuit of his

goal has given Hamlet the example on how to act if an oppor-

tunity presents itself. Hamlet is so determined to do something

he does not wish to think about the consequences anymore.

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