The literary critic, Norman Holland, considers Horatio the Man of thought, Fortinbras, the man of action and Hamlet, the man of thought and action. Holland states: "At the end of the play, the man of thought and the man of action stand facing each other, separated, divided; between them lies the man who was both, a failure precisely because he was both." Holland's characterization and analysis of Horatio and of Fortinbras is hardly groundbreaking and is easily supported by the text of the play. Holland's analysis of Hamlet, however, is thought provoking and begs further investigation. Hamlet is undoubtedly a man of thought as well as a man of action. The words of Holland that are hard to swallow are: "a failure precisely because he was both". How was this combination Hamlet's tragic flaw? How did these traits directly lead to Hamlet's downfall?.
Apparent from the opening scene of the play is that Fortinbras, as a man of action, is valiantly avenging his father's death. "Now, sir, young, Fortinbras, /Of unimproved mettle hot and full, / Hath in the skirts of Norway . / Which no other than to recover of us, by strong hand/ And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands/ So by his father lost." (1.1. 107-116) Later in the play, Fortinbras" zealousness when honor is at stake becomes clear and is a source of inspiration to Hamlet. Hamlet, in response to hearing of Fortinbras" conquest of a worthless patch of land, reacts: "Witness this army of such mass and charge, / Led by a delicate and tender prince, / Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed / But greatly to find quarrel in a straw/ When honor's at stake." (Act.4.4.50-59) Hamlet, while praising Fortinbras" spirit, brings under scrutiny Fortinbras" intentions, and motives. Fortinbras" conquest was unfounded in reason and was emotionally and egotistically driven. As in Hamlet's reaction: "The imminent death of twenty thousand men/ That for fantasy and trick of fame/ Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot/ Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause," (Act.
Hamlet Hamlet is a young man who's father dies and his life is turned upside down. ... Hamlet is battling his conscience. ... Hamlet is extremely indecisive. ... Hamlet wants to kill his uncle because he killed hamlets father. ... Hamlet only trusts Horatio. ...
The old king Hamlet is murder by Claudius and therefore Hamlet must take his revenge. ... Hamlet begins to doubt the ghost. ... Hamlet is contradicts himself. ... Hamlet's next problem is that of morality. ... Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. ... Laertes is decisive and Hamlet is not. ... Fortinbras acts as Hamlet's inspiration; he motivates Hamlet to go forward with his plan to kill Claudius, which in the end leads to Hamlet's downfall. ... Horatio is Hamlet's friend and solid rock on whom Hamlet can trust and depend. ... Horatio cared for Hamlet greatly, and so Hamlet cared greatly for Horatio. ...
KING Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HAMLET At supper. ... If Claudius does not stand on one side of a titanic conflict, his betrayal of Hamlet's father and Marriage to Hamlet's mother, do ignite one: Hamlet's conflict with himself. ... In the end Hamlet dies along with most of the principle characters whether they were duplicities against Hamlet or not. ... By the end of the play Hamlet has thoroughly explored the question but like Hamlet, it remains an enigma. ...
Hamlet The study of Shakespeare's Hamlet has been one that is very extensive as well as enormous. ... A critic of Hamlet once said, "a man set out to read all the books about Hamlet would have time to read nothing else, not even Hamlet." ... "Hamlet is the tragedy of reflection. ... For where Hamlet saw that "the time is out of joint," Hamlet himself was "out of joint." ... (Mack. 64) Hamlet begins his questioning with the death of elder Hamlet. ...
Hamlet 1 Throughout Hamlet, Hamlet expresses his thoughts via several soliloquies. ... In this scene, Hamlet is being "set up" by Ophelia, Polonius, and Claudius. ... This is quite different than the "emotional Hamlet" seen in 1.2, or the "vengeful Hamlet" seen in 1.5. ... The three claim to be concerned for Hamlet's mental state of mind. This is ironic, because as the characters within the play see Hamlet mentally deteriorating, readers see Hamlet mentally developing. ...
Hamlet Tania Kozie-Slobodzian Hamlet is categorized as one of Shakespeare's tragedies. ... Horatio a friend of Hamlet tells Hamlet that he is afraid because he thinks he has seen a ghost who resembles the late King. ... The Ghost of Hamlet's father appears in front of Hamlet. The ghost is in fact Hamlet's late father. ... Now that Hamlet is said to be crazy, Polonius goes to the King and tells him about Hamlet's strange behavior concerning Ophelia. ...
