Hamlet and Fortinbras are both characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet is the son of the late King Hamlet, and Fortinbras is the son of the late King of Norway.
Hamlet is a very complex character who struggles with indecision and doubt. Fortinbras, on the other hand, is a much simpler character who is driven by his determination and his desire for revenge.
Hamlet spends a great deal of time brooding over his situation and trying to figure out what he should do. Fortinbras, on the other hand, is much more straightforward in his approach; he knows what he wants and he goes after it aggressively.
Hamlet is motivated by his conscience and his sense of morality. Fortinbras is motivated by his desire for revenge. Hamlet is willing to delay his own needs in order to do what he believes is right. Fortinbras, on the other hand, is not interested in anything but avenging his father’s death.
Hamlet is a deeply introspective character who constantly questions himself and his motives. Fortinbras is much more confident and doesn’t spend nearly as much time thinking about things. Hamlet is fearful and uncertain; Fortinbras is fearless and determined.
The viewpoints of Hamlet and Fortinbras are poles apart. As has been shown, Hamlet is a lot more of a thinker who needs to think through every element of a problem before acting. He also appears to need far more justification in order to be ready to act. It’s highly likely that Hamlet would have responded differently than Fortinbras did in the preceding example.
Recall that Hamlet is not willing to kill Claudius until he has absolute proof of the king’s guilt, whereas Fortinbras kills his uncle without any hesitation. This can be partially attributed to their backgrounds: Hamlet is of royal blood, while Fortinbras is not. Hamlet has a strong sense of duty to fulfill due to his lineage, while Fortinbras does not. It can also be said that Hamlet’s position as prince puts him in a difficult spot: he is not only expected to uphold the law himself, but he must also do so in a way that sets an example for those below him. Fortinbras, on the other hand, has no such expectations weighing him down.
There are also differences in how Hamlet and Fortinbras view death. Hamlet often contemplates suicide, but only as a last resort. He is aware that death is the ultimate end to all things, and he does not want to simply rush into it without fully understanding what awaits him on the other side. Fortinbras, on the other hand, seems to have a much more cavalier attitude towards death. He is willing to die in battle if it means achieving his goals.
Ultimately, Hamlet and Fortinbras are two very different characters who approach life and death in different ways. Hamlet is reflective and contemplative, while Fortinbras is action-oriented and quick to take decisive steps. Hamlet is burdened by the expectations placed on him due to his position and bloodline, while Fortinbras is free from such constraints. Hamlet is cautious before taking any action, while Fortinbras is more likely to act without thinking things through.
Hamlet is willing to face death if it means fulfilling his duty, while Fortinbras seems to regard death as nothing more than another obstacle to be overcome. These are just a few of the many differences between Hamlet and Fortinbras. In the end, it is up to the individual reader to decide which character they find more admirable.
Fortinbras’ name is a play on words, as it refers to the fortification of a city. His name also implies that he is part of the Fortin clan, which may be derived from his Norwegian heritage. In Act 2, Scene 5, Hamlet describes him in this way: “A poltroon;/a lank-salmon;/sluggish and burly.”
This etymology alludes to the fact that he has some connection with Hamlet through their shared father (Polish). He’s got something going for him! His family members are shown united by their love for him. Unlike Hamlet, who grapples with whether or not mother was murdered by his uncle Claudius after her death and
His mother is a widow, and he has an uncle who is supportive and helps him in his quest. Hamlet, on the other hand, has an antagonistic relationship with his mother and a dead father whose ghost he talks to. Hamlet is also indecisive while Fortinbras is decisive. Hamlet takes too much time considering his options while Fortinbras makes decisions quickly based on what he knows.
Hamlet often relies on others to help him make decisions while Fortinbras is independent. Hamlet wallows in self-pity while Fortinbras is proactive. These differences between Hamlet and Fortinbras make them interesting foils for one another and provide insight into both characters. Hamlet is a more complex character while Fortinbras is more straightforward. Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark while Fortinbras is the Prince of Norway.
Hamlet is a Shakespearean character while Fortinbras is not. Hamlet is a static character while Fortinbras is a dynamic character. Hamlet dies at the end of the play while Fortinbras lives. Hamlet and Fortinbras are two very different characters, but they share some similarities that make them interesting to compare and contrast. Hamlet is more introspective while Fortinbras is more action-oriented.
Hamlet is plagued by doubt while Fortinbras is confident. Hamlet often contemplates suicide while Fortinbras does not. Hamlet is more of a thinker while Fortinbras is more of a doer. Hamlet and Fortinbras are both motivated by revenge, but they go about it in different ways. Hamlet is a complex character who wrestles with his thoughts and feelings while Fortinbras is someone who takes action based on what he knows. These differences make them both fascinating to explore.
Fortinbras is likely to have done differently than Hamlet in the scenario used to illustrate Hamlet’s ideas. If he were in Hamlet’s position and found Claudius alone praying, it’s very probable Fortinbras would kill him. Because killing Claudius swiftly and getting it over with would end his obligations, restore his mother’s reputation, and most likely provide him Denmark’s throne.
Hamlet seems to be bothered by the idea that he would be going to hell as part of his revenge, while Fortinbras likely would not care. Hamlet’s delay in taking action also gives Fortinbras the opportunity to invade Denmark and take it by force. Hamlet is in many ways a tragic hero while Fortinbras is a more traditional hero who takes swift and direct action. Hamlet’s inner turmoil and indecision ultimately lead to his downfall, while Fortinbras’s straightforwardness leads him to victory.
Looking at the example used, Hamlet likely would have acted differently than Fortinbras did. Hamlet was bound by duty and morality which caused him to hesitate in taking action. Hamlet also cared about what people thought of him, particularly his father’s ghost. Hamlet wanted to ensure that he was avenging his father properly and did not want to commit any sins in the process.
Fortinbras, on the other hand, likely would not have hesitated in taking action. He was more concerned with fulfilling his obligations and restoring his mother’s honor. Hamlet was also greatly influenced by his inner turmoil and Fortinbras was not. This ultimately led to Hamlet’s downfall while Fortinbras was victorious.
It is important to note that Hamlet is not a traditional hero like Fortinbras. Hamlet does not take swift and direct action. Hamlet is instead greatly influenced by his inner turmoil which ultimately leads to his downfall. This is in contrast to Fortinbras who is more straightforward and does not let emotions get in the way of his actions. Fortinbras is thus a more traditional hero.
In conclusion, Hamlet and Fortinbras are two very different characters with two very different ways of dealing with problems. Hamlet is bound by duty and morality while Fortinbras does not care about such things. Hamlet is greatly influenced by his inner turmoil while Fortinbras is not. Hamlet’s hesitation ultimately leads to his downfall while Fortinbras’s straightforwardness leads him to victory.