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Post by jonah21 on Apr 10, 2016 0:55:44 GMT
There's something that's been on my mind about the trial. What's the importantance of Fortinbras in the trial? As I was writing my character profile and trial prep part I about him, I just couldn't think of why he would be included in the trial. He wasn't there when the murder was happening. He was off on the Poland expedition. He didn't know a lot of the characters other than probably King Hamlet and (possibly, or just an idea of) Hamlet. The only connection I could really make of him was that he was also a prince whose father was killed as well.
What do you guys think? What's important about Fortinbras in the story?
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Post by mayurika98 on Apr 10, 2016 2:33:56 GMT
As we discussed in cluncool, Fortinbras acts as a foil for Hamlet's character. Similar to Hamlet, he has a father who is killed in battle and he becomes responsible for the throne of his country. Even though Fortinbras is not in exact favor of Hamlet's family because his father was killed by King Hamlet, he still finds an opportunity when there is conflict in Denmark. If he shows enough respect towards Hamlet and all the losses that Denmark has faced people may look to him as a leader. That is exactly what happened. However, I don't understand why Hamlet wanted to give the throne to Fortinbras, maybe because he felt a connection? Personally, I feel like Shakespeare rushed the ending of the story so everything combined together even if it didn't make that much sense.
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Post by Jooyoung on Apr 10, 2016 4:35:44 GMT
I think Fortinbras is significant in the story for two reasons. Firstly, Fortinbras act as a foil to Hamlet, emphasizing Hamlet's characteristics. Fortinbras took action quickly, organizing an army to invade Norway. However, Hamlet would never put revenge into action. This emphasize Hamlet's inability to take action (complexity of action). Secondly, 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.
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Post by maysamyounis on Apr 10, 2016 4:45:14 GMT
Fortinbras is perhaps the strangest. He is barely seen and speaks little. Other characters often speak of him in low tones. Oddly enough, though, Fortinbras is a stabilizing force in the action of the play and he also functions as a framing device for the play itself. He makes his presence known only at the beginning, middle and end .
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Post by jin794 on Apr 10, 2016 7:34:38 GMT
Fortinbras acted as foil of Hamlet. Fortinbras is ready to commit his men and himself to the grave for glory while Hamlet feels he has done nothing to avenge his own father. Again, the two princes are contrasted for the sake of developing Hamlet’s character. Fortinbras only appears twice in the play, and he does not speak more than nine lines at any one time. 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. Fortinbras shows himself to be more than a warrior. His affinity for honor and glory makes him sound evenhanded or perhaps just. 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.
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Post by Tharu on Apr 10, 2016 8:21:07 GMT
I agree with you where Fortinbras has nothing to do with this trial. As you said, he only has one connection with Hamlet, where both of their fathers has been killed by enemies, so I believe both could feel their situations and understand each other. So i think as a defense lawyer, i think he will understand how Hamlet feels about his situation.
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Post by lucia on Apr 10, 2016 8:56:37 GMT
I agree with you guys! Fortinbras and even the other minor characters help us determine the different sides of Hamlet's character. He is everything Hamlet wants: brave, strong-minded, and decisive. I think that Fortinbras will play an important role in deciding what kind of a Hamlet really is.
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Post by melody on Apr 10, 2016 11:15:14 GMT
I think Fortinbras was the device who uncoolured the readers that Hamlet will be remembered as the glorious prince who revenged for his good father (which shows loyalty) and fought for justice. As everyone died except Horatio, Hamlet demanded Horatio to not kill himself but survive and spread his story to his nation. Then, Horatio goes to Fortinbras to tell him about the tragedy happened to the royalties in Denmark. Fortinbras mentions that all his reap came from Hamlet and he said that he'll shoot the gun to remember and thank the prince, Hamlet. The story tells the readers that Hamlet was remembered as the responsible (glorious and wise) prince who saved them instead of the mad prince. In my personal opinion, I thought Shakespeare was trying to show proof that Hamlet was not mad but he was pretending to be one. Once again, I think Fortinbras was the device which led the readers uncoolure that Hamlet was never crazy and he was remembered as a hero to his nation.
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Post by anniee on Apr 10, 2016 11:19:14 GMT
Fortinbras has no direct influence in the course of the trial, but as others have mentioned, his role as a character in the play may help us determine the verdict for Hamlet. Fortinbras mostly served to emphasize Hamlet's tendency for inaction in his plan for revenge, but this time, Hamlet did take action: he stabbed Polonius, who was hiding behind the curtain in his mother's bedroom. Perhaps Fortinbras will help shed more light on why Hamlet used the blade.
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Post by mohahaha on Apr 10, 2016 11:49:27 GMT
Fortinbras is the foil of Hamlet, to which he should be able to empathize with Hamlet about his situation. But Hamlet is more of a minded person, careful, philosophical, wise, and plans ahead, meanwhile Fortinbras is more of an immediate action taker that he wants to regain the taken land back
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Post by ETypeRegymon on Apr 10, 2016 14:16:14 GMT
I think Fortinbras having nothing to do with Hamlet or any of the events in the story is exactly why he should be a witness. It's to give his opinions on the murder as an outsider. Since he likely won't be biased to either side (though Hamlet did try to win him over by appointing him as king, but this happens before the trial's setting), he can give insight on the characters' actions.
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Post by christopher on Apr 10, 2016 16:11:03 GMT
Fortinbras show not much appearance within the play; yet, he acts as a foil of Hamlet. Fortinbras is there to highlight Hamlet's character. Also, like Regy said, he acts like the 3rd person/outsider of a setting. So I think Fortinbras brings a lot to the table.
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