Similarities Between Hamlet And Fortinbras

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The comparison of Hamlet to Young Fortinbras develops Hamlet’s character by comparing their actions to the central idea ‘action vs inaction’. Hamlet states, “I do not know why yet I live to say ‘This thing’s to do,” (Act 4.4, 42-43). Fortinbras is sending 20,000 men to their deaths (Act 4.4, 46-52). Fortinbras’s father died like Hamlet’s father but Fortinbras has taken ‘action’ according to Hamlet. Hamlet talks about how he still hasn’t taken action and due to that he should not be alive. These comparisons develop Hamlet’s character by showing Hamlet’s faults and his task. His task is still to take revenge but he hasn’t completed it yet. Hamlet can be seen as the type of person who talks but never does. The comparisons between Fortinbras and