Similarities Between Hamlet And Fortinbras In Hamlet

848 Words2 Pages

Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is a tragic story of a protagonist seeking revenge that is unable to quickly carry out the actual act. Hamlet's delay in avenging the murder of his father, the King of Denmark, is the primary plot that has a theme of revenge. Additionally, the theme of revenge is also apparent in other instances because Hamlet is not the only one that has a desire to seek revenge. Laertes and Fortinbras are two other characters that also try to plot revenge against the killers of their fathers. King Fortinbras is slain in the play's prelude battle by King Hamlet, the King of Norway. Prince Fortinbras, is similar to Hamlet in many ways: like Hamlet, Fortinbras is the first example in the play of a son that seeks revenge and …show more content…

What makes matters worse is that Claudius marries Gertrude - Hamlet's mother, the King/Father's wife. Hamlet receives proof of Claudius' involvement when the ghost of his father visits him and says "The serpent that did sting the father's life now wears the crown." (Hamlet. Act 1, Scene 5, Pg.2). Now that Hamlet knows the truth and ordered to seek vengence by his father's ghost, he develops tremendous feelings of hatred and rage towards the uncle and begins to plan his murder. Even though Hamlet carries this weight of anger around with him and is seen by his peers and family as mad and crazy, he still manages to keep his wit and remains calm and patient in executing his plan. Unfortunately, the delay in his vengence did not come without additional tragedy as the story unfolds and other characters in the story end up perishing to include: his only love, Ophelia; the king's chief counselor, Polonius; his mother, Gertrude; and Opehlia's brother, …show more content…

While trying to execute his plan, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius. Hamlet thinks it is Claudius talking to Gertrude behind the curtain, so he stabs the figure behind the curtain, but discovers it was Polonius. Once Laertes, learns of his father's death at the hands of Hamlet, he then desires to seek revenge on Hamlet. Hamlet appears crazier than ever due to his guilt and anger, and his lover becomes so saddened by the tragedies, that she commits suicide. Claudius then relies on Laertes and his extreme hatred for Hamlet. Due to the deaths of his father and his sister, Claudius coaxes Laertes into plotting Hamlet's death, and they plan a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet to settle the fued. Laertes' sword is tainted with poison on the end, and if he doesn't win, Hamlet's victory wine goblet is filled with poison. As the fencing match commences, Hamlet appears to be the victor. Before the match ends, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, the Queen, mistakenly takes a celebratory drink from the goblet of wine. Meanwhile, Hamlet is mildly cut with the poisonous sword edge but continues to fight. During the scuffle, the swords are switched, and Laertes is also wounded by the poisonous sword. The Queen falls to the ground to die. Soon Laertes feels the effects of the posion and tells Hamlet what Claudius was plotting and about the poisoned swords. At that point, Hamlet impulsively

Show More
Related

  • Hamlet Fortinbras Analysis

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is infuriated with his mother, Gertrude, for marrying his uncle, Claudius, less than two months after his father’s death. Hamlet, the main protagonist, has two characters who act as foils to him, and they are Fortinbras and Laertes. Not only do they want revenge on their father’s murderers, but they are willing to do so at all costs, even if it means destroying their reputation and independence. They also find different ways to cope with their troubles. These foils enhance the importance of Hamlet’s character throughout the play.

    Read More

  • Differences And Similarities Between Hamlet And Fortinbras

    221 Words  | 1 Pages

    The situation in both countries of Norway and Denmark are similar. In both countries the old kings have just died and the uncles have taken over the throne to become king, while the nephews Hamlet and Fortinbras are the rightful to the throne. For example, Fortinbras’s uncle is now king preceding his father, and Claudius is now king preceding Hamlet’s father. However, young Fortinbras decides to go with his own army of the homeless that he created by offering them lands and wealth. He wants to take back the lands that were once owned by his country, because he might have a chance due to the shift in power.

    Read More

  • Revenage in William Shakespeare´s Hamlet

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...oward in thine eternal cell, /That thou so many princes at a shot/So bloodily hast struck?”(5.2.357-359). Multiple characters including Claudius, Hamlet and Laertes are trying to avenge someone or seek vengeance. In the end they all end up meeting their fate and die as well as other characters. Fortinbras knows he arrives to late and is unable to help the kingdom, however he is now the present king.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Corruption Quotes Analysis

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    They both wish death upon the other. When Hamlet finds out about the murder through his father’s ghost, he vows to avenge his father’s and kill Claudius for his immoral act. “But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.” (1.5.38-40) In this quote, Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his father stating that he was murdered by his

    Read More

  • Similarities And Differences Between Hamlet And Fortinbras

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, throughout the Shakespearian tragedy, he is actively doing everything to avenge his father and ultimately succeeds. Fortinbras ' swift and forceful actions caught Hamlet’s attention; which shows amazing leadership, due to the fact it inspired someone to achieve something on their own. These characteristics of Fortinbras ultimate made him King of Denmark on Hamlet’s death bed: ‘On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice: So tell him, with occurrents, more or less, which have solicited.” (5,2, 349-351). Fortinbras wanted to get back the land that his father had lost to the old King Hamlet.Unlike Hamlet who was also seeking revenge, Fortinbras gain the most power than he had in the beginning of the play. He is only in character Hamlet who benefits from seeking vengeance as he has done it in a noble manner of a Prince and leader.

    Read More

  • Fortinbras Thoughtful Laughter In Hamlet

    435 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Hamlet, Fortinbras is a character that is there but is never actually at the action

    Read More

  • Fortinbras, Laertes and Horatio, as Foils to Hamlet

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fortinbras' uncomplicated, simple-minded determination towards final revenge of this father's death contrasts with Hamlet's intermittent efforts towards the same goal. The Norwegian's first appearance in the play, which does not occur until act IV, scene 4, is conveniently placed as Hamlet is on another of his "lows." Fortinbras' triumphant and majestic entry into Denmark evidences his ability to plan and act, circumventing obstacles in his plan as they arise, which contrasts with Hamlet's inability to do the same. Hamlet condemns himself and exposes one of his weaknesses -- his inability to act when required or possible -- by questioning "Wh...

    Read More

  • The Role of Fortinbras in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fortinbras functions as a foil to Hamlet throughout the play. His situation parallels Hamlet’s disposition as they enter the plot of the play. Both are princes of their own countries, their fathers have been murdered, and both are on the verge of succeeding as the next heir to the throne. The only obstacles that prevent them from the throne are their uncles, the favored successors after their fathers. While Hamlet seeks revenge against his own uncle for murdering his father in cold blood, Fortinbras’ father is murdered at the hands of Hamlet’s father, the former king of Denmark....

    Read More

  • Fortinbras as Foil for Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Contrasting Fortinbras and Laertes with Hamlet

    1951 Words  | 4 Pages

    In William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras and Hamlet find themselves in similar situations.  While Hamlet waits for the right time to avenge his father's death, Laertes learns of his father's death and immediately wants vengeance, and Fortinbras awaits his chance to recapture land that used to belong to his father.  Laertes and Fortinbras go about accomplishing their desires quite differently than Hamlet.  While Hamlet acts slowly and carefully, Laertes and Fortinbras seek their revenge with haste. Although Laertes and Fortinbras are minor characters, Shakespeare molds them in order to contrast with Hamlet.  Fortinbras and, to a greater extent, Laertes act as foils to Hamlet with respect to their motives for revenge, execution of their plans and behavior while carrying out their plans.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Revenge of Fortinbras and Hamlet

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Hamlet, Shakespeare introduces us to Fortinbras and Hamlet. Both characters are bent on avenging the death of their fathers who were murdered. In Act I, two different revenge plots by these two men are revealed, and while Fortinbras is very open and bold about killing Claudius, Hamlet is sly and quiet about his plan. Fortinbras is also dead set on attacking Denmark no matter what but Hamlet is indecisive about killing Claudius. Fortinbras plans to lead an army to attack Denmark while Hamlet’s plan of attack is to act crazy.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Acts Morally, Harms Others by his Actions, and Realizes his Tragic Limits

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous work of tragedy. Throughout the play the title character, Hamlet, tends to seek revenge for his father’s death. Shakespeare achieved his work in Hamlet through his brilliant depiction of the hero’s struggle with two opposing forces that hunt Hamlet throughout the play: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father’s murder. When Hamlet sets his mind to revenge his fathers’ death, he is faced with many challenges that delay him from committing murder to his uncle Claudius, who killed Hamlets’ father, the former king. During this delay, he harms others with his actions by acting irrationally, threatening Gertrude, his mother, and by killing Polonius which led into the madness and death of Ophelia. Hamlet ends up deceiving everyone around him, and also himself, by putting on a mask of insanity. In spite of the fact that Hamlet attempts to act morally in order to kill his uncle, he delays his revenge of his fathers’ death, harming others by his irritating actions. Despite Hamlets’ decisive character, he comes to a point where he realizes his tragic limits.

    Read More

  • Nature of Revenge

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Claudius killed Hamlet’s dad and then married his mom to become the leader of Denmark. Later in the play, Hamlet sees his dad’s ghost and is informed of the horrific act committed by his uncle. Hamlets’ dad’s ghost says, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I. V. 25). Hamlets’ dad says this to Hamlet so that his uncle could get retribution for his actions. Hamlet has many opportunities to kill Claudius, but is unable because of the wrong timing.

    Read More

  • Hamlet, The Protagonist

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is a tale of tragedy by Shakespeare which tells the story of the prince of Denmark who is on a quest to avenge the death of his father at the hands of his uncle whom subsequently becomes king of Denmark. This is what fuels the fire in the play as Hamlet feels the responsibility to avenge his father’s death by his uncle Claudius; however, Claudius assumed the throne following the death of hamlets father. It is in this context that we see the evolution of hamlets character from a student and young prince of Denmark to the protagonist and tragic hero in the play.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Revenge In Hamlet

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a play filled with revenge. A revenge play was a common genre of play in Shakespeare 's day, and Shakespeare showed superb mastery in his style of writing one. The play centers on the fact that revenge leads to tragedy. When Hamlet tries to kill his uncle, he ends up killing Polonius and getting himself killed. Laertes wants to kill Hamlet because of his father 's death and ends up dead himself. A stark contrast to the two, Fortinbras listens to the good advice not to turn to revenge due to the death of his father but is patient and eventually ends up earning the crown of Denmark.

    Read More

More about Similarities Between Hamlet And Fortinbras In Hamlet

Open Document