A lesser man (Fortinbras) would not have been so torn apart, yet Hamlet's nobility and reason leave him open to tragedy. ... He is Hamlet's one and only friend... Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes each must avenge a father's violent murder. ... Laertes resorts to treachery to achieve his ends and Fortinbras is without guilt when he sends twenty thousand men to their deaths over a plot of land. ... His evil deed avenged, Denmark is able to recover with Fortinbras at the lead. ...

• Word Count: 1544
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Hamlet is informed by the ghost of his father that he has been murdered by the man who is now King of Denmark and new husband of Hamlet's mother. ... At that moment, Hamlet accepts without hesitation but the rest of the play is concerned with Hamlet's process of revenge-taking. ... Laertes informs Hamlet that the responsible is Claudius. ... Before dying, Hamlet asks Horatio, his confidant and better friend, one who provides information necessary to move the play along, to tell his story to everybody and also tells Fortinbras that he approves him as a successor to the Danish throne. ...

• Word Count: 1643
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School