William Shakespeare?S Hamlet Essay, Research Paper
In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence.
Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects ation, theme, or the development of other characters.
In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Hamlet and Fortinbras have many similarities in situation, position of power, and ambitions. Shakespeare uses Fortinbras to contrast and highlight Hamlet, as well as influence Hamlets decisions.
In Hamlet the character of Fortinbras, a young Norwegian prince, has been used as a foil for the main character Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet and Fortinbras have lost their fathers to untimely deaths. Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, killed Hamlet’s father and Old King Hamlet killed Fortinbras’ father. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras have vowed to take revenge on the death of their fathers. However, they go about doing this in complete opposite manners than each other.
After learning of his father’s death Hamlet promises to take revenge, upon Claudius. Even after Hamlet has no doubts that Claudius is the murderer, he hesitates to kill him. Fortinbras, on the other hand, takes action even before the play begins. As the play opens, we learn that Denmark is in a state of alert. Horatio informs us that:
…sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes.
(ACT 1. SC 1. LN 107-110)
Fortinbras plans to take action against Denmark for the killing of his father and for the return of lands previously owned by Norway, These differences between Hamlet’s and Fortinbras’ action are further mentioned in Hamlet’s last soliloquy.
Before the soliloquy begins, one of Fortinbras’s Captains informs Hamlet that Norway is preparing to fight Poland over a “little patch of land”, and that twenty thousand men are willing to fight for this worthless piece of land just for honor’s sake. This begins Hamlet’s last soliloquy. In it Hamlet reflects upon Fortinbras’ determination to go against the Polish army for the honor over a trifling matter while he has delayed for so long to avenge the murder of his father.
The soliloquy begins with Hamlet’s thoughts on how time is running by and he still hasn’t done anything. He says:
“How all occasions do inform against me,
And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,
If his chief good and market of his time
Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.”
(Hamlet IV.iv. 32-35)
In these lines Hamlet thinks about all the time he has wasted in not taking action. He sees how everything around him is taking shape, all except his own actions. He goes on to say “Sure, he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not that capability and god-like reason to fust in us unus’d “(36-39) Here Hamlet is saying that every man has reason, and that reason should be put to good use. He also expresses the thought that he has “……cause and will and strength and means to do’t” (45-46) but still waits and thinks of taking action instead of taking action.
Next Hamlet goes on to describes Fortinbras. He asks the audience to:
Witness this army of such mass and charge
Led by a delicate and tender prince,
Whose spirit with divine ambition puf’d
Makes mouths at the invisible event,
Exposing what is mortal and unsure
To all that fortune, death and danger dare,
Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great
Is not to stir without great argument,
But greatly to find quarrel in a straw
When houour’s at the stake.” (47-56)
These lines describe Fortinbras. The audience learns that Fortinbras a young, driven, and ambitious prince who is willing to risk everything for what he must do and achieve, even if it’s for an “egg-shell”. Hamlet then finishes his soliloquy with a comparison to his situation and action to that of Fortinbras and the army of twenty thousand men.
After learning of Fortinbras’ plan against Poland, Hamlet becomes disgusted with his inability to avenge his father’s murder. He wonders how he has just “let all sleep” even after the killing of his father and the moral death of his mother. He is even more ashamed when he thinks of the twenty-thousand men who are willing to go to their deaths for a valueless piece of land that’s not even big enough for their graves. This was enough to set his mind once and for all. At the end he decides that from that moment on, all he will think about is his revenge against anyone that has done injustice towards him. He says “O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing more ” (65-66)
In this soliloquy Hamlet’s personality is, for the last time in the play, clear to the reader. He is shown against another Prince who is the exact opposite of him in the same situation. By this the reader learns more about Hamlet’s characteristics and the way he thinks. Also, here Hamlet has finally made a decision on what to do. He has made up his mind to have only bloody thoughts instead of ones that are well thought out. Fortinbras’ pursuit of his goal has given Hamlet the example on how to act if an opportunity presents itself. Hamlet is so determined to do something he does not wish to think about the consequences anymore.
Although Fortinbras is not present for much of the play he has a large influence on Hamlets decisions. Shakespeare utilizes the similarities and differences of the two young princes in the play Hamlet
Другие работы по теме:
William ShakespeareS Hamlet Essay Research Paper Role
William Shakespeare?S Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Role Reversal Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the audience attaches to the young protagonist Hamlet. Throughout the play, his wit, and his underdog situation, compel the audience to root for him, and thus wishing evil upon his foe, Claudius.
Donald Davidson Essay Research Paper In Shakespeares
Donald Davidson Essay, Research Paper In Shakespeare?s Hamlet, there is a murder, and it doesn?t say straight out who the murder is. There are no detectives on the case. No one within in the state is really questioning the murder of the King except for his son. It may not have all the customary qualities of detective story, but it does come across as a detective story in which Hamlet seeks to solve the mysterious death and to revenge for his father.
Horatio From Hamlet Essay Research Paper Horatios
Horatio From Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Horatio?s role in the play Hamlet, which was written by William Shakespeare, is extremely important. In the first place, Horatio was the person who told Hamlet about the ghost. He also had the job of watching Claudius while the play was going on in order to see if he showed his guilt.
Bla Essay Research Paper IIIi5690Hamlet condemns himself
Bla Essay, Research Paper III.i.56-90 Hamlet condemns himself to life in this soliloquy. He realizes that by escaping his earthly body through death he will still remain in the prison of painful thoughts. Hamlet, the thinker, cannot escape his conscious self and in that realization decides, “to be.” The foundation of his choice is solipsistic in nature.
Hamlet Essay Research Paper Act IV Scene
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Act IV, Scene vii: Claudius convinces Laertes that he is innocent in Laertes’ father’s death and that Hamlet is to blame. A messenger enters with Hamlet’s letter and Claudius is amazed to find that
Hamlets Sanity Essay Research Paper Hamlet s
Hamlets Sanity Essay, Research Paper Hamlet s Sanity In the second act of Hamlet , it is evedent that Hamlet is not the norm . It comes down to the question of either Hamlet is faking his insanity or he has truly lost his mind. Polonius made the ussumption that Hamlet has gone mad with love, a theory inwich holds it s own from a outside point of view.Through further investigation in which Claudius and Polonius spy on Hamlet by using Ophelia as bate .
Hamlet Essay Research Paper ally funny man
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper ally funny man. Hamlet: why are you throwing up another skull. It could be a skull of a lawyer. So who grave is this man. Clown: It?s all mine.
Love In Hamlet Essay Research Paper Hamlet
Love In Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Hamlet is, without any doubt, one of William Shakespeare’s most puzzling plays. Often times, the reader becomes engulfed in the mystery, trickery and deceit in this tragedy. People become perplexed while reading Hamlet when they ask themselves the question, “Does Hamlet truly love Ophelia?”.
Hamlet Essay Research Paper Hamlet A Tragic
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Hamlet: A Tragic Hero Hamlet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, once again gave me an opportunity to understand and gain more knowledge on how Shakespeare regarded most of his main characters as tragic heroes themselves. Since the play Hamlet was totally full of tragedy, it certainly was portrayed by once again a tragic hero named Hamlet.
Hamlet And His Maddness Essay Research Paper
Hamlet and his Madness Since the play Hamlet was first written and performed, critics have analyzed the question “Was Hamlet really mad?” I personally do not believe that he was, but all of the characters in this play have a different opinion.
Hamlet Explication Essay Research Paper Hamlet Explication
Hamlet Explication Essay, Research Paper Hamlet Explication In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Rosencrantz speaks Act 3 Scene 3 lines 11-23. The lines that he speaks are in response to the Kings request that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Hamlet to England immediately. The king feels that Hamlet’s madness is a threat to him and tries to convince the men that it is a threat to the kingdom and that it would be in Hamlet’s best interest to go to England.
Themes In Hamlet Essay Research Paper In
Themes In Hamlet Essay, Research Paper In William Shakespeare s play Hamlet; a theme that remains constant throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Many things in the play appear to be true and honest when in reality they are not. Many characters in the play give the impression of being honest and sincere in their actions, but in reality they are filled with lies.
Hamlet And Macbeth Essay Research Paper Supernatural
Hamlet And Macbeth Essay, Research Paper Supernatural Occurrences in Hamlet and Macbeth In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Thus, the supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of Shakespeare s plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot.
Hamlet Kings Essay Research Paper There are
Hamlet Kings Essay, Research Paper There are many differences between the Kings Hamlet and Claudius with very few similarities. Perhaps the similarities stop at being the product of the same
Hamlet Character Flaws Essay Research Paper In
Hamlet Character Flaws Essay, Research Paper In every play or book that a person reads the characters are never perfect. They always have a flaw that causes a problem or conflict within the storyline. This is true for Hamlet’s character in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In several of Hamlet’s speeches he discloses many flaws in his character to the readers throughout the play.
Hamlet Foreshadowing Essay Research Paper An example
Hamlet Foreshadowing Essay, Research Paper An example of foreshadowing is when Hamlet’s father came to him as a ghost to inform him of his murder, this caused a rage within Hamlet that foreshadows his revenge. This revenge led to the death of his uncle, mother, and himself. It also created Hamlet’s wild behavior, and caused him possibly to become insane..
Hamlet And Ophelia Essay Research Paper An
Hamlet And Ophelia Essay, Research Paper An example of foreshadowing is when Hamlet?s father came to him as a ghost to inform him of his murder, this caused a rage within Hamlet that foreshadows his
Hamlet Vs Laertes Essay Research Paper Hamlet
Hamlet Vs Laertes Essay, Research Paper Hamlet vs Laertes Both Laertes and Hamlet both have similar and unique personality traits. These two characters are essential parts to the structure and theme of this play. Laertes tends to be possibly, in my opinion, an earlier version of Hamlet. Laertes has a positive outlook on life and seems to make the best of his life.
Compare And Contrast Macbeth
’s And Hamlet’s Madness Essay, Research Paper Madness can be described as an internal flaw that both characters, Hamlet and Macbeth, possess. Although their madness is different in some aspects, it can be said that
Hamlet Essay Research Paper HamletIn the play
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Hamlet In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare proposed two kinds of men. Horatio is the character who represents a man of thought. The other kind of man is represented by
Macbeth V Hamlet Essay Research Paper In
Macbeth V Hamlet Essay, Research Paper In the tragedies of Hamlet and Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the main character exhibits a tragic flaw. However, the problem that afflicts each is directly opposite the fault of the other. Macbeth?s weakness is his ambition, driving him forward in murder and betrayal, whereas Hamlet has no such driving force to even avenge the wrongful murder of his own father and suffers from an inability to act.
Hamlet 3 Essay Research Paper HamletThe work
Hamlet 3 Essay, Research Paper Hamlet The work that I wish to discuss is Tom Stoppard’s play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” as a scholarly work in regards to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is included in Sven Birket’s Literature: The Evolving Canon.
William Shakespeares Tragedy Hamlet Essay Research Paper
William Shakespeare?s tragedy Hamlet has been one of the most controversial works of all time. There have been so many criticisms on this book and opinions on what the main theme behind the play is. Many themes have been proposed such as revenge, sex, reality and jealousy. I myself believe that there is no one theme behind Hamlet and it is a complex with work with many complex ideas behind it.
Hamlet Hamlet Defeated By His Own Flaws
Essay, Research Paper Hamlet: Hamlet Defeated By His Own Flaws In William Shakespeare’s well known tragic play, Hamlet, the main character Hamlet is defeated by his own flaws. These flaws are the killing of
Crazy Hamlet Essay Research Paper Crazy Hamlet
Crazy Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Crazy Hamlet Shakespeare The real question is Hamlet crazy or is he just acting it. In my opinion there are many things throughout the play that make me tend to believe that he is crazy. When Hamlet enters Opheliu”s room and she has the question if he is truly mad or if he is just acting.
Hamlet Essay Research Paper There are many
Hamlet Essay, Research Paper There are many reasons why one would think that Queen Gertrude is clueless about the murder of King Hamlet, yet others think she was involved in the murder. People have their own opinions on this but I believe that Queen Gertrude had an idea about the murder. There are many reasons and facts contributing to my opinion on this.
Hamlet Act I Essay Research Paper In
Hamlet Act I Essay, Research Paper In Act I of Hamlet, the ghost of the king hamlet comes to the battlement, outside a castle in Denmark. Marcellus and Horatio ask the ghost to speak, but
William Shakespeares Work Hamlet Essay Research Paper
Over time many opinions have been formed about William Shakespeare?s work Hamlet. Yet through the quagmire of confusion surrounding the tragedy none have spoken than T.S. Eliot. Eliot sees hamlet as somewhat of an artistic failure due to its confusion between the main plot and the main character.
Hamlet Finding Courage To Die Essay Research
Paper Hamlet: Finding Courage to Die In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” we see a young man paralyzed with grief over his father. So much so that he is believed to have gone mad. Hamlet
Hamlet 12 Essay Research Paper Hamlet
Hamlet 12 Essay, Research Paper Hamlet’s “Tragic Flaw” Hamlet’s famous soliloquy (Hamlet, act III, scene 1) shows his depth and ability in thinking, and shows Shakespeare’s ability to manipulate language. Throughout the play, Hamlet stops to think before acting on anything. The more he thinks, the less he does.