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Comparison Of Fortinbras And Horatio In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

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In Hamlet, Shakespeare Proves To Be For All Time Literature is important because it connects individuals with larger truths and ideas in society. The play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, succeeds in connecting an individual’s life with the play through relatable characters. Characters such as Hamlet and Ophelia show how difficult young love and death can be to handle, while characters like Fortinbras display acts of determination and bravery. Horatio, also another character in the play, is a prime example of a true best friend in a person’s life. Shakespeare is for all time because, the themes portrayed in the play and the characters taking part in it are relatable to issues and people in a young person’s life today. Hamlet’s personality and …show more content…

Fortinbras shows love for his father by avenging him and being determined to do so by taking back the lands that were stripped away from his father. Horatio reveals, “And 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” (1.1.101-104). Horatio reveals Prince Fortinbras’ future plans to take over the lands that were taken from his father by Denmark, and how he is a very determined person and it will be hard to defend those lands. This shows Fortinbras ambition and courage, and with this he was able to win those lands back, and become king of Denmark as Hamlet nominates him moments before he died. This relates to a young individual’s life because, there is always people who will work hard for what they want, and will end up successful. Horatio plays the role of Hamlets best friend in the play, and is very relatable to adolescents as they all have that one friend who deeply cares and loves them, and is always there to support them through the hardest of times. When Hamlet follows the ghost so he can find out what his business is, Horatio is that one friend that tells him, “What if tempt you toward the flood, my lord,/ Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff/That beetles o’er his base into the sea,”(1.4.69-71). Horatio warns Hamlet of how dangerous this can be and tries to dissuade him from speaking with the ghost, since he can get fooled into his death. This however is not the only time Horatio shows affection for Hamlet. At the end of the play when Hamlet is poisoned, Horatio proclaims the love he has for him and says, “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane” (5.2.333). Famous Romans committed suicide instead of accepting defeat, and Horatio makes this comparison, where he is saying he cannot live without Hamlet. Horatio proved to be Hamlets true

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3. From one angle the play is about the relationship between fathers and sons. Compare the relationships of Hamlet, Fortinbras and Laertes. Use textual support. All three characters react differently when their fathers are murdered.

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When faced with a life changing event there are two primary reactions, it is either loosing hope and becoming self destructive or finding a way to overcome the challenge and succeed. Success and failure immensely rely on the decisions a character makes along with the way they react when a situation cannot be controlled. Shakespeare’s Hamlet displays this ideology strongly through Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras as they parallel each other as each embarks on a journey to avenge the death of his father. The characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras attempt to obtain revenge, however, their reaction and approach towards revenge varies greatly as while Fortinbras is planning, Hamlet and Laertes are acting on impulse leading to either their downfall or success.

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Revenge is defined as “...a desire to do harm in return for a wrong; returning evil for evil; vengeance” (Webster Dictionary). Revenge is an extremely powerful tool, which, if not used properly, can cause more detriment than benevolence. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, several of the characters are compelled to restore family honor by means of revenge. Young Fortinbras reclaims his father's honor by gaining territory; Hamlet avenged his father's murder by killing Claudius, and Laertes must get avenge both his sister and his father’s deaths. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had respect for their fathers.

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Hamlet and Fortinbras have similarities such as they both have lost their fathers, both have their uncles on the thrown of their country, and they both seek revenge because of the mourning of their fathers. Hamlet and Fortinbras are different because Hamlet overthinks things whereas Fortinbras takes action first and thinks about it later, Hamlet is also unwilling to act if he is unsure of it and Fortinbras will put people at risk to get revenge. What readers and audience members come to understand as a result of the similarities and differences that exist between Hamlet and Fortinbras is that they are basically opposites of each other. Hamlet overthinks things a lot and you never really know what his actions are going to be,

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Fortinbras wants his revenge on Denmark for ruining his country’s honor and killing his father, Claudius wants revenge on Hamlet for embarrassing him and ruining his rule as king, Laertes wants revenge on

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Also, when Horatio comes into the room at this time, Hamlet is as good as

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Hamlet is deceived by his uncle and tried to get him killed. Many times throughout the story. Hamlet is able to confide in Horatio. Horatios act of loyalty had a big impact on Hamlet. In the beginning of the story when king Hamlet's ghost appears, it is Horatio who decides to tell hamlet that they saw him.

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After Hamlet's meeting with his father's ghost, he insisted to Horatio, "Never make known what we have seen to-night," to which Horatio replies with, "My lord, we will not" (1.5.147-148). Agreeing to harbor such treasonous secrets would certainly result in the detachment of Horatio's head in the event that Claudius were to find out, but Horatio is ready to accept the consequences if the situation arises. All the way to Hamlet's dying breath, Horatio remains true. Following Hamlet's poisoning, Horatio melancholily remarks, "Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.

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In William Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, Horatio being Hamlet’s true friend gives the play a solid base and sense of security allowing the play depth and substantiality. Horatio clearly gives Hamlet true friendship and loyalty, sense and

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Hamlet is so serious about this performance that he even commands that there be no ad libbing. Hamlet then speaks in private with Horatio about the upcoming play. Its very clear that Hamlet trusts Horatio completely.

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Though Hamlet may earn love from the people of Denmark, Claudius earns respect. Some may argue it is better to be loved than feared as a leader, but Claudius’ resilience in his quest to murder Hamlet proves

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In William Shakespeare 's play Hamlet, the most heroic and brave character is young Hamlet. Despite the fact Hamlet is stranded amidst a court filled with dishonesty and misconduct and is confronted by the death of his father and his mom 's relatively quick marriage to his father 's brother, he is viewed as daring and bold in the minds of readers. For, it is his courageousness, fearlessness, determination and bravery that proves that Hamlet is not only a strong willed individual but also the most heroic character in the play. " But two months dead…my poor father’s body…why she married with my uncle, my father’s brother, but no more like my father…But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue" (

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In spite of everything, Hamlet ends up dying a hero due to his best friend Horatio, fulfilling his final dream, which was to tell the truth about his tragic story. The new king of Denmark, Fortinbras, states that Hamlet be remembered as a fallen soldier, “Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, for he was likely, had he been put on, to have proved most royal; and for his passage, the soldier’s music and the rite of war, speak loudly for him” [V.ii 441-446]. Through this closing quote of the play the audience is able to understand Fortinbras’ decision to have Hamlet remembered as a hero. One must remember throughout the novel that Hamlet’s ambiguous decisions were solely to redress the murder of his father who was slain out of jealousy and the acquisitive desire of his uncle

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Through the entirety of the play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, the characters were overcome with the need for revenge as the outcome of many deaths. Therefore, no one was happy through “Hamlet” and it resulted in a tragedy. The character Hamlet played a big role in turning towards revenge and never would classify himself as being happy. Hamlet displays positive and negative behavior throughout the play. Hamlet exhibits strengths and weaknesses as well, although his weaknesses of over-thinking, bitterness, and his inability to accept the death of his father overshadow his strengths.

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Horatio and Hamlet share a relationship of respect, just as a father and son would. Horatio 's calm and intelligent demeanor reflects King Hamlet, gaining him Hamlet 's admiration. Hamlet states that a true friend is not "a pipe for Fortune 's finger,/To sound what stop she please" (Shakespeare 3.2.70-71). Hamlet wishes he could be as unaffected and relaxed as Horatio is when stressed. By giving a speech entirely dedicated to Horatio, Hamlet displays his appreciation for his friend 's qualities.

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