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