Hamlets Horatio - A Man of Thought, Fortinbras - A Man of Action :: comparison compare contrast essays

crossroads Horatio - A Man of Thought, Fortinbras - A Man of deed In the play critical point,  William Shakespeare proposed two kinds of men.  Horatio isthe character who represents a adult male of sentiment.  The former(a)  kind of man isrepresented by Fortinbras, a man of do.  Hamlet is the character thatmanages to be both, thought and challenge.  Hamlet failed to avenge his fathersdeath because he was both.  According to Shakespeare in the play Hamlet, a mancould not obey if ge was both action and thought. The most evident man ofthought in the play was Horatio.  Horatio sees the world with the eyes of ascholar and views things in a logical manner.  Horatio sees the ghost andHamlet  says There are more than things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than aredreamt of in your philosophy (1.5.166-168). This reveals Horatios attitude tothe audience. It shows that Horatio whole believes in what scholars say.  Studyis his only purpose I life.  He is admire and used by others for his knowledge, The audience becomes sensitive of this admiration when the soldiers use Horatiothe emit with the ghost. Marcellus says Thou art a scholar speak to it,Horatio       ( 1.1.42).  The soldiers  need Horatio because he is an educatedman.  As a man of thought Horatio has a portentous role in helping society. Fortinbras is a man of action.  He takes action before he thinks about theconsequences of his actions.  The king is making use of these characteristicswhen he says we have to writ to Norway, uncle of young FortinbrasWho impotentand bed-rid, scarcely hears of his nephews purpose to quash his furthergait (1.2.29-32). In this quote the king has stopped Fortinbras impingement ofDenmark.  The king was able to do this because Fortinbras didnt consider whatwould happen if His uncle found out.  some other quotation showing Fortinbrasaction without thought is made by H amlet. Hamlet has bonny learned of theinvasion of Poland led by Fortinbras. When Hamlet says The threatening death oftwenty thousand men, that for a fantasy and trick of fame (44.60-61) he  isstating the consequences of Fortinbras actions. Hamlet is saying that many men will die just so Fortinbras can be famous.Fortinbras is the character who best represents  a man of action in this play.The hero of the play, Hamlet, Is a man of both action and thought.  The causeof Hamlets failure is being a man of both.  Hamlet is aware that his thinkingis getting in the way of his revenge.