Character Analysis: Fortinbras

1. "Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish king. Tell him that by his license Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promis'd march Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous. If that his Majesty would aught with us, We shall express our duty in his eye; And let him know so." (IV.4.1-8)

Fortinbras has lost his father because the old king of Denmark, Hamlet's father, killed him. Fortinbras is seeking for revenge on the country of Denmark and is setting out to claim the land that was lost from the death of his father. Fortinbras is in many ways like Hamlet, but they have this difference: Hamlet takes no action to take revenge on his uncle, while Fortinbras immediately forms an army to take over the land that was once his. This quote shows that Fortinbras is very diligent in what he feels like he needs to do, unlike Hamlet.

2. "Go softly (slowly) on." (IV.4.10)

Fortinbras is ready to take his land back and however long it takes him, he will patiently wait for his rewards. Again, he is similar to Hamlet in that they both want revenge, except Hamlet does not take action; therefore, he is hasty, while Fortinbras does take action and he is willing to wait for what rewards awiat him.

3. "This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death, what feast is toward in thine eternal cell that thou so many princes at a shot so bloodily hast struck." (V.2.364-368)

Fortinbras has just come back to tell the king that Rosencrantz and Guildnestern are both dead as he wanted when he sees the sight of everyone dead except for Horatio. Fortinbras is stunned by the scene and wonders what death is thinking to have taken the lives of so many people. Fortinbras, even in his own revenge, seems to have a good control on it, and he is able to still the frailty and brevity of life, which took Hamlet a very long time to see. Again, this is where Fortinbras and Hamlet are different.

4. "Let us haste to hear it, and call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this kingdom which now, to claim my vantage doth invite me." (V.2.387-391)

Fortinbras has done his mourning, however short it may have been, and is now ready to recieve his reward of the land that he has been desiring to have for so long, unfortunately, not through the way that he would have wanted.

5. "Let four captains bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage; for he was likely, had he been put on,
to have prov'd most royally; and for his passage the soldiers' music and the rites of war speak loudly for him. Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this becomes the field but here shows much amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot." (V.2.396-404)

Fortinbras, instead of disrespecting everyone that has died; even though he has tried so desperately to get revenge on them, he gets soldiers to respectfully bury them, but he tells them to bury Hamlet as a one would bury a soldier, with the utmost honor and respect. It is truly amazing to see that Fortinbras still respects the one that he was trying so hard to get revenge on by burying him with a respectful and honorable burial.