ipl-logo

Essay On Fortinbras In Hamlet

765 Words4 Pages

Within the plot of Hamlet, there are many character foils to express meaning, Hamlet and Fortinbras being one example. The reason Shakespeare chooses to have very similar characters end up in different situations is to express the thought that Hamlet could have ended up a successful character, like Fortinbras, which adds to the element of tragedy. Hamlet’s failure to avenge his father and stay alive to tell the story was procrastinating on his feelings; whereas Fortinbras, a character foil, could have suffered as a result of his father’s murder, but took a deliberate path that ended up to him successfully avenging his father and staying alive. These lead the audience to sympathize with Hamlet and ultimately understand he could have been a successful …show more content…

Hamlet could have succeeded in both avenging his father and staying alive to tell the story, like Fortinbras, but failed. Even though Hamlet ended up successful in killing Claudius, he dies by the same sword, therefore, making him unsuccessful overall. Fortinbras’s goal was to avenge his father and gain back the land he had lost. He gains the territory, avenges his father, and now is in line for Denmark’s throne as well as Norway’s, an overall success. By adding this comparison, the audience empathizes with Hamlet, even more, adding to the simple classical …show more content…

Hamlet did kill Claudius, but did not see the result of his actions, because he is killed soon after. Hamlet’s fatal flaw was procrastinating on his actions; whereas Fortinbras could have suffered as a result of his father’s murder, but took a deliberate path and ended up successfully avenging his father and staying alive to tell his story. This not only leads the audience to sympathize with Hamlet, but causes the reader to realize could have been an overall successful

Show More
Related

Compare And Contrast Laertes And Hamlet

768 Words | 4 Pages

The Awakening Of Hamlet and Laertes Comparing Laertes and Hamlet. Figuring out how they are alike and dislike in many ways, most of the play they are well alike. After Hamlet kills Polonius, Laertes down the road faces the same problems as Hamlet; a murdered father. In the beginning Laertes and Hamlet didn’t have the same similarities, but since both of there fathers were murdered they both have something in common. While Hamlet, is messing around and playing with the murderer as if he was an animal, Laertes takes immediate action.

Read More

Laertes As A Foil To Hamlet Character Analysis

925 Words | 4 Pages

In “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, William Shakespeare uses the sayings and behaviors of many of his minor characters to show his audiences the true characteristics of the protagonist, Prince Hamlet. This literary device is called a foil. A foil is a character whose traits help to clarify the character of the protagonist. In this famous play, Prince Hamlet has many foils. Laertes is the most effective foil to Hamlet because of how his life and reactions compare to that of Hamlet.

Read More

Hamlet Figurative Language Essay

785 Words | 4 Pages

Hamlet was given the prime opportunity to kill Claudius when he found him on his knees begging for forgiveness. Hamlet negated not to kill him right then and there because he wanted Claudius to go to hell, not heaven. Hamlet’s lack of sanity, or his tragic flaw, in the play is definitely what caused his inability to

Read More

Differences And Similarities Between Hamlet And Fortinbras

131 Words | 1 Pages

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,

Read More

How Does Fortinbras Get Revenge In Hamlet

2017 Words | 9 Pages

Have you ever been wronged by someone so badly that you felt as though revenge was needed? Perhaps your best friend stole the woman you loved, so you felt that you needed to act and do something to get back at him. Maybe you destroy his life by starting a false rumor about him, or you get in a fight with him and humiliate him. This is just one common example of “revenge” in our everyday lives. In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, there are much more serious things going on, involving death, murder, and wars between nations.

Read More

Importance Of Foils In Hamlet

883 Words | 4 Pages

A Deeper Analysis on Character Foils of Hamlet in Hamlet Character foils often allow the reader to better understand a protagonist’s personality and desires. In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Horatio, Claudius, and Laertes are exemplar character foils for the protagonist, Hamlet, and under further examination, the play suggests that these character foils help the reader to really resonate with Hamlet and depict the contrasts and similarities between Hamlet and other characters in the play. These character foils are important and significant in highlighting another character’s flaws and traits in which they may not have, compared to another character in the play. To begin with, Horatio plays a huge role in being the character foil for Hamlet.

Read More

Hamlet Oedipus Complex Quotes Analysis

1083 Words | 5 Pages

The character foils in hamlet mainly display Hamlets delay in killing Claudius. Laertes actions in the play help us to better understand Hamlets from a male perspective of losing and avenging a father. Whereas Ophelia helps us to see a female perspective of emotion about losing a father. Ophelia can be considered a foil character because she provides a better understanding of Hamlet.

Read More

Hamlet And Odysseus Comparison

699 Words | 3 Pages

Just like the people of Ithaca, Hamlet didn’t just forget about his king, and his father. He yearned to figure it out. Most characters in Hamlet are very loyal, Laertes, Hamlet, Horatio, and Fortinbras, all show their loyalty throughout the play. Whether it’s starting an army to avenge their father, or creating a subterfuge, it’s evident that loyalty is a big part of the play. It was this display of loyalty that helped make both stories so timeless and make them still relevant

Read More

Abuse Of Power In Elizabethan Era

1534 Words | 7 Pages

What would you do if you were to be given great authority and power? There are those who would be responsible and treat such power with the utmost care, and yet there are those who would use their authority for personal gain as if it were a child ’s play toy. Corruption is everywhere; there is no limitation to where or when it can happen. One of the most notable examples of the abuse of power, and the catastrophe that can occur from the aftermath is during the Elizabethan era in England.

Read More

Importance Of Foil Characters In Hamlet

965 Words | 4 Pages

To be a foil character, one must “contrast with other characters in order to highlight particular qualities of the other characters.” Throughout Hamlet, four prominent characters are foil characters to Hamlet: Laertes, Fortinbras, Horatio and Claudius. In many cases, Hamlet and the foil characters react differently for each other in varying situations but yet show similarities in their reactions. The relationship created between Hamlet and Laertes takes a shift from the beginning of the book towards the end.

Read More

Hamlet And Masculinity In Hamlet, By William Shakespeare

956 Words | 4 Pages

Hamlet shows his admiration for Fortinbras by saying: The imminent death of twenty men; That for a fantasy and trick of fame; Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot. (4.4.60-63) Here, Hamlet is fascinated with the fact that Fortinbras would wage a battle for land that has no meaning. Fortinbras is a manly warrior and shows the ability to take action.

Read More

Moral Ambiguity In Hamlet

932 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

Loss Of Innocence In Hamlet

731 Words | 3 Pages

So this pushes Hamlet to lead his friends to their death. As a result,Hamlet was betrayed by his comrades who works for a king that is a murderer who took another king’s

Read More

Why Is Hamlet A Villain

1467 Words | 6 Pages

In a way there was never another route for Hamlet to take but villainy. This is because a heroic character would have challenged Claudius to a duel and quickly avenged his father’s death. Hamlet does not do this, instead he feigns madness with the intent of getting Claudius to admit his guilt. This seems really pointless.

Read More

Hamlet Strengths And Weaknesses

1844 Words | 8 Pages

Hamlet is William Shakespeare 's renowned tale of mystery, intrigue, and murder, centered on a young misguided prince who can only trust himself. Some may say that the actions of Prince Hamlet throughout the play are weak and fearful, displaying a tendency to procrastinate and showing an apathetic nature towards his family and peers. Others spin a tale of a noble young scholar, driven mad by the cold-blooded murder of his father by his uncle. In truth, I believe Hamlet is neither of these things. Hamlet is a sort of amalgamation of the two, a bundle of contradictions thrown together into one conflicting but very human mess of a character.

Read More

More about Essay On Fortinbras In Hamlet

Related Topics

Open Document