Through the common loss of their father’s, Laertes and Fortinbras highlight Hamlet’s conflict between his reason and passion. Laertes receives news regarding his father, Polonius’s murder and assumes that King Claudius is responsible. Laertes’s speculation causes him to threaten Claudius, “Only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father” (4.5.128-134). In contrast to Laertes’s judgment, Prince Hamlet is revealed to have killed Polonius out of the belief that Polonius was Claudius. Through the progression of this plot, Laertes is shown as an individual who acts on passion and disregards reason to investigate the truth of Polonius’s murder. To contrast, Fortinbras is communicated as an individual who veils his passion with the voice of reason. After King Hamlet killed Prince Fortinbras’s father, Fortinbras begins to seek vengeance. …show more content…
A response is delivered to Claudius through his councillor, Voltemand, after he consults with the Norwegian king “Upon our first, he sent out to suppress his nephew's levies, which to him appeared to be a preparation ’gainst the Polack”(2.2.61-62). To elaborate, Prince Fortinbras tactfully masked his revenge plan against Denmark while feigning innocence to deceive Claudius and King Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras continues to seek out his passion by strategically gaining Denmark’s trust and by preparing an attack of passion. Similarly yet contrastingly, the murder of Prince Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, also causes Prince Hamlet to act on his own impulsive desires. Hamlet is unable to act as quickly as Laertes and consumes his thoughts more aggressively than Fortinbras. To expand, the ghost of King Hamlet appears and affirms that Claudius is his killer; he instructs Prince Hamlet to avenge his death by murdering
He is a character that marches across scenes and acts as a foil character for Hamlet. Since the beginning, Marcellus, a guard, senses that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.95), foreshadowing the imminent doom of the Denmark and its people. Indeed, because Claudius’ unjust crime was revealed, Denmark drowns in a state of rottenness and corruption. At the end, however, Denmark is brought to its revival because of Fortinbras. Described as a “delicate and tender prince” (4.4.48), who is also spirited with ambition and energy like “unimproved mettle hot and full” (1.1.95), Fortinbras is a man of action. He, much like Hamlet and Laertes, has a father to avenge for, whose name is also Fortinbras. King Fortinbras was slain in the battle with King Hamlet, and he is determined to seek immediate revenge at any cost. He provides an interesting contrast to Hamlet as Fortinbras does not seek revenge through murder, but through the invasion of land for power and honour. Because of the noble manner which he acts,the outcome of his fate rewards him, unlike the others who suffered for seeking revenge. Fortinbras does not play a major role in the play until the end, and his speeches are brief and straightforward, which as Polonius says, “brevity is the soul of wit” (2.2.92).
Fortinbras, like Hamlet is a prince. He as the Prince of Norway lost his father in a war long ago with King Hamlet. And as with Hamlet, his uncle became king rather than he. A man of action, Fortinbras chose to take revenge in a very strong and courageous way. He was going to lead an army against Denmark to revenge his father and take back land lost in the earlier war. He was prevented by his uncle the King of Norway
First It shows that Fortinbras may know of the affairs in Denmark. Secondly Claudies states that the prince of norway is a shameless opportunist, This is obviously something the new King Claudius knows about all too well. Fortinbras and Hamlet are alike from their loss of their fathers and hunger for revenge which forms a connection between the two making fortinbras Hamlets Foil. However they are different when it comes to their family relations,Hamlet is distant with a weak relation with them unlike Fortinbras who has a strong relation with his own family.
Fortinbras is a manly warrior and shows the ability to take action. Similarly, Laertes is known for being a good fighter, a man of action, and having the ability to lead. During the play Laertes states, “To cut his throat i’th’ church”(IV.vii. 98). Laertes here says he would go as far as to kill Hamlet in the church, something almost unheard of. This portrays Laertes’ manly characteristics as being a rash and a well known fighter. The young Prince Hamlet, however, denies a chance to take his own revenge, as shown when he
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, Laertes, Hamlet, and Fortinbras are introduced. They all share one similarity, all of them have experienced the death of a father, but they are all very different. Laertes’s father was accidently murdered. Hamlet’s father was murdered in an attempt to gain power, and Fortinbras’ father was killed nobly in a battle for land and power. Laertes is a man of action and impulse. Hamlet is a man of thought and procrastination. Laertes’ quick decision making without thinking and Hamlet’s over thought and lack of follow through caused a lot of death and problems for them throughout the play. Fortinbras is a healthy balance between both which helped him to succeed. Laertes, Hamlet, and Fortinbras all share one similarity, but they are all very different.
William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is full of revenge and hesitation. Young Hamlet plans to seek revenge on Claudius for killing his father and former King of Denmark. Hamlet is hesitant about his revenge until he hears about Fortinabras setting off a meaningless war for a small portion of land. Through the thoughts and feelings shared in Hamlets speech it is evident he is moved by Fortinbras. Hamlet’s character is inspired by Fortinbras actions, allowing the character and the audience to gain a better understanding of Hamlet himself.
Hearing of the unrest in Denmark, young Fortinbras sets out to wrest control for himself. The audience never truly gets to know Fortinbras, but it is evident that he is a clever man, who is loyal to both his country and his family. When all is said and done, Fortinbras inherits the crown of Denmark, and he gained it not through dishonest means, but rather through fortitude, patience, and strategy. When he hears the truth of the situation he has stumbled into, Fortinbras recognizes Hamlet’s struggle and declares him a hero.. Laertes, another foil of Hamlet’s, is again demonstrative of a power struggle within the Danish court.
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.
Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, and respected their fathers, enough to make an attempt to seek revenge upon their father’s murderers at the risk of losing their own freedom or perhaps lives. While these actions are being planned, Hamlet pretends as if he is really insane and incapable of action. He presents this tone that is frustrated and angry with life. This process of revenge also shows that revenge is self defeating because while Hamlet is trying to plan how to murder others, he is slowly losing his mind as he
Fortinbras aims to attack the throne and leave Denmark without one, resulting in a collapse. Fortinbras plan works however, and by the end of the play leaves Denmark without a head throne. The next person to take part in revenge is Laertes. Laertes takes revenge on Hamlet himself for killing his father, Polonius. “I dare damnation: to this point I stand, / That both the worlds I give to negligence, / Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged /
Fortinbras serves as the perfect foil for Hamlet because of the way Fortinbras encompasses all of the traits that Hamlet desires but feels he lacks. He observes the dignity of Fortinbras and his army and concludes, “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” (IV.iv.54-57). Hamlet is astonished at the bravery and determination of the Norwegian army. He explains how being great is not only fighting for a good purpose, but also fighting when it is the right action to take. The army’s reason for fighting contrasts with Hamlet’s reason for fighting, as the army is only fighting for an “eggshell”, a plot of land that is irrelevant. Hamlet, however, boasts two possible reasons to fight for honor: his father has been murdered and his mother is now married to his father’s murderer. Despite having reasons to fight for his honor, Hamlet has yet to take any sort of action. By comparing himself to Fortinbras, Hamlet realizes he must uphold his honor by taking action, once and for all. He concludes, “My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!” (IV.iv.67). Hamlet confirms that all of his actions from then on must be about the murder of Claudius, and any ideas other than that are worthless. Hamlet does, indeed, follow through with his word and avenges his father, but minutes before his death, he states, “O God, Horatio,
Through his description, the reader finds out that Fortinbras is a juvenile, dedicated leader who is ready to jeopardize everything and anything to accomplish his goals. Hamlet then finishes his soliloquy by comparing his problem to Fortinbras and the army of men who are fighting over land.
Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, begins as an admired and noble young man. However, fate and the turn of events lead the tragic hero the depths of his fortunes. The tragedy starts with the death of the heroic King Hamlet. His brother, Claudius is the successor as King of Denmark and married the protagonist’s mother. When a ghost of the late King Hamlet appears, Hamlet’s downfall begins. The ghost explains to Hamlet that Claudius killed his father “upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment, whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man” (1001). Hamlet then feels like he must get revenge against Claudius and sets out to plot how it will happen. King Claudius senses something suspicious about Hamlet and sends for Hamlet’s two
His father’s ghost’s departing words “remember me” are the same words which hold back Hamlet as he now feels as though it is his responsibility to give Claudius a bad death, just as that which had been given to his father, even though he was never told to do so. Hamlet knows that he has been given the task of killing his uncle and avenging his father he still doesn’t take any action as he is still looking for certainty in giving Claudius a death while in a sinful state. Hamlet cares not about the murders and sins that he commits towards people who have not done him much wrong, such as Ophelia, Polonius, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz; therefore, it shows that it is not his morals that are preventing him from killing, rather it his search of certainty that prevents him from killing Claudius. As a reader we also see what someone who is ambitious and motivated looks like through the actions of Fortinbras, as he prepares for war against Denmark even though he was told not to do so by his uncle, all for the sake of his honour. Hamlet also recognizes Fortinbras as a worthy individual when he discovers Fortinbras’ steadfastness towards his goals. Laertes, a character
Fortinbras is opposite Hamlet when it comes to their behavior in regards to their circumstance. Hamlet’s father has been murdered and Hamlet was passed over as heir to the throne. Likewise, Fortinbras had his father and his throne taken from him (at the hands of Hamlet’s father). However, the ways the two react to their similar situations differ substantially. Hamlet indecisively contemplates revenge while Fortinbras actively engages an army to avenge his father. It is in this action that Fortinbras successfully regains the throne that belonged to him, and it is in the inaction that tortures Hamlet. Fortinbras is similar to Hamlet - both lost their fathers, both are princes of their respective nations. But where Hamlet is primarily concerned with internal politics in Denmark, Fortinbras is engaged in real leadership of the Norwegian armies and expands his country's territory.