|
|
Post by Jooyoung on Mar 11, 2016 2:08:47 GMT
As we discussed in English cluncool, Fortinbras act as a foil to Hamlet, emphasizing Hamlet's characteristics such as his inability to act on his decision. I also believe Fortinbras act as a motivation factor for Hamlet to put is revenge into action. When Hamlet saw Fortinbra's army, he felt ashamed that his is not taking action when soldier is risking their lives for land that is not even worth it. Although Hamlet didn't really take action after this event, it did help him reaffirm is determination. What do you guys think? What is Fortinbra's significance in the play?
|
|
|
|
Post by anniee on Mar 13, 2016 11:17:55 GMT
I agree that Fortinbras served as Hamlet's foil in the play. Another difference in action between Hamlet and Fortinbras that I noticed were in the acts of revenge for their fathers. Yes, Fortinbras brought an army to avenge his father and take back conquered lands, while Hamlet only complained about losing his father, but the outcomes of their plans also diverged. Fortinbras was direct and ready to act, yet his vengeance was foiled when Claudius informed Fortinbras' uncle of his nephew's intentions.. Meanwhile, Hamlet's scheme was more cunning, thinking of ways to trick Claudius and Gertrude into admitting their guilt by acting crazy. Nevertheless, Fortinbras was the one who truly won in the end: Hamlet does get to kill Claudius, but dies in the process, while Fortinbras merely comes into Denmark to find that the royal family has been ruined. He gains the nation of Denmark and gets to rule by Hamlet's words, thus regaining his father's land that he had worked so hard for.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessica (Yeeun) Kim on Mar 13, 2016 13:27:56 GMT
I believe Fortinbras is not the only reason for motivating Hamlet to put in his revenge. While Hamlet was dying, he told Horatio to tell his story to everyone including Fortinbras. For this reason, I predict that Hamlet thought Fortinbras as a successor or messenger of his tragedy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jonathan on Mar 13, 2016 14:56:49 GMT
I believe the significance of Fortinbras in Hamlet is to compare what he has done to Hamlet. Both of their fathers were killed in what ever reason and both has the ultimate goal is to get revenge for their father. While Fortinbras takes control of his country and leads an army to crush Hamlet's country, Hamlet just comes up with the smartest plan to kill everyone related to his father death. Ultimately, Fortinbras gets what he wants be conquering them while Hamlet dies while getting his revenge.
|
|
|
|
Post by toomuchchanmin on Mar 13, 2016 17:21:32 GMT
I think he is there for the audience to compare him to Hamlet. After all they're both princes. Unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras takes action and seems to be respected a lot among his army, at least more than Hamlet does. And he has more of a bold motivation that would help his kingdom, which is conquest. Also the character's existence serves an excuse for Claudius to justify himself of becoming king. Claudius keeps mentioning about "stability", and Fortinbras is mentioned a lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by jin794 on Mar 20, 2016 6:19:04 GMT
Fortinbras acted as foil of Hamlet. Fortinbras’s willingness to go to great lengths to avenge his father’s death contrasts sharply with Hamlet’s inactivity, even though both of them are concerned with avenging their fathers. Laertes’ single-minded, furious desire to avenge Polonius stands in opposition to Hamlet’s inactivity with regard to his own father’s death. Finally, Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are all in a position to seek revenge for the murders of their fathers, and their situations are deeply intertwined. Hamlet’s father killed Fortinbras’s father, and Hamlet killed Laertes’ father, meaning that Hamlet occupies the same role for Laertes as Claudius does for Hamlet.
|
|
