Although Fortinbras may seem like a minor character in the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, when looking deeper into it he plays a significant role. When looking at Fortinbras one can ask, “What does his character make us see that we would not see otherwise?” Fortinbras is a direct parallel to Hamlet while they both lost their fathers and plan to seek revenge. Fortinbras can be deemed a soldier who sought out the war while Hamlet kept his plan in the royal house behind closed doors. The difference helps show one what sons do for their fathers, where one draws the line between what is too far, and what the price of revenge is. Fortinbras and Hamlet planned their revenge in two completely different ways and the end, Fortinbras became King of Poland …show more content…
Hamlet's life ended in a bloody scene of betrayal from revenge in a household while Fortinbras came filled with success. Though earlier Hamlet talked about the moral significance of spilling blood to those who do not deserve it, his home ended up as a battlefield. Horatio referred to the situation as having, “carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts of accidental judgment, and unnatural acts” (5.2.423-424). Though Hamlet thought he was performing in a just way to get the revenge his father desired, he ended up losing everything. As Hamlet criticized Fortinbras for his way of war Hamlet ended up in one himself. Fortinbras got the last line of the play stating, “Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage” (5.5.442). Fortinbras uses this to leave Hamlet with honor and respect instead of a messy family issue. This helps grasp the idea of how the right way to go about revenge would be. Foritbras is left with a kingdom while Hamlet is dead with all of the people he cares about. They were blinded by revenge but one used it as motivation the other their purpose. Fortinbras wanted to respect his father's wishes and went to war, losing lives that were in the fight. Hamlet used murdering Claudius as his purpose and though he didn't mean to, he brought everyone down with