Fortinbras, Laertes and Horatio, as Foils to Hamlet Essay -- GCSE Cour

Fortinbras, Laertes and Horatio, as Foils to Hamlet What a piece of work is a man (II, 2, 305). In his program line Prince Hamlet, in his role as the star character in William Shakespeares Hamlet, acknowledges the complexity of man as infinite in faculties. . . express and admirable. . . equivalent an angel or like a god. . . and yet. . . a quintessence of dust (II, 2, 307) is man described. Shakespeare emphasizes the observation by casting Hamlet as a man, exposing his strengths and weaknesses through the contrast provided by Fortinbras, Laertes and Horatio, as foils to the tragic hero. At his first appearance, young Fortinbras is shown to be inferior to Hamlet being of unimproved metal, hot and full (I, 1, 96) unreasonably sharking up a list of landless resolutes (I, 1, 98), he is in sharp contrast to the sweet and commendable (I, 2, 87) Hamlet introduced in the next scene. As the play develops, however, Hamlets weakness are highlighted as Fortinbras workings to earn his nam e, which seems to symbolize the strong arm of the soldier (xxvii). Fortinbras uncomplicated, simple-minded determination towards final revenge of this fathers death contrasts with Hamlets intermittent efforts towards the same goal. The Norwegians first appearance in the play, which does not occur until act IV, scene 4, is conveniently placed as Hamlet is on another of his lows. Fortinbras triumphant and majestic entry into Denmark evidences his ability to political program and act, circumventing obstacles in his plan as they arise, which contrasts with Hamlets inability to do the same. Hamlet condemns himself and exposes one of his weaknesses -- his inability to act when required or possible -- by questioning Wh... ... the diabolically duel in the final scene. The scholars strong code of honour and ethics, which pushes him to commit suicide at Hamlets death, contrasts with Hamlets lack of morals, sending his old acquaintances Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths in Engla nd and mercilessly wringing his mothers magnetic core (III, 4, 35) during the closet scene. By exposing and emphasizing Hamlets many strengths and weaknesses as they appear throughout the play, Fortinbras, Laertes and Horatio act as foils to the tragic hero. Although they assist in the understanding of Hamlet, they do not completely dissect the inner workings of the main character, thus testifying to the complexity of an individual. Indeed, what a piece of work is a man Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Betty Bealy. Toronto Canadian tutor Book Exchange, 1996.