Sunday, October 31, 2010

Is Fortinbras right in his assessment of Hamlet at the end of the play, Act 5, scene 2, lines 425 - 433?

Fortinbras and Hamlet are constitutional opposites, where Hamlet is pensive and mercurial whereas Fortinbras is all about the action. Fortinbra enters from Poland and is elected heir to Hamlet who then dies. The play ends with praise of Hamlet by Horatio and Fortinbras talking about what a good and decent man Hamlet is.
I think that Fortinbras assesment of Hamlet at the end of the play is correct because he says: 'Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage.' this is true because even though Hamlet didn't kill Claudius when he had the chance, he still came back to seek revenge on his uncle. And he succeeded but it resulted ing his life, which is what soilders do, they risk their lifes for their country which is kind of what Hamlet done throughout the play although he done it for his father. Hamlet got told by the ghost of his father to avenge his murder, which he finally succeeds however this is after the whole royal house has been wiped out and he himself has been mortally wounded with a poisoned rapier by Laertes. Fortinbras final lines appear to represent the hope for a better future for teh Danish monarchy and its subjects.
Fortinbra also says: 'The solider's music and the rites of war speak loudly for him' meaning that the soilders are proud of him for standing up and getting revenge even though it was a life risking discission. I believe that Hamletwas a brave and powerful man because Horatio was going to commit suicide by drinking the left over poison however Hamlet wrestles the cup away from him and orders him to live and tell the true story of the royal families troubles to the world at larget, restoring Hamlets good name.
Some people disagree with Hamlet being the good character because throughout the play he spent so much of his time deliberating rather than doing anything. He had several chances to kill Claudius however he didn't because he didnt know whethere the ghost was telling the truth about his uncle murdering his father. Almost every character in the play is a doer.

The entry of Fortinbras reinforces this sense of new future; his final words praise for Hamlet as the bodies are carried off the stage form a final and moving climax to the end of the play. This leaves the readers or the audience thinking whats going to happen next, although the play then comes to an end.

1 comment:

  1. These are good comments. Does the play have a proper resolution?

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