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Although his appearances on stage are brief, the character of Fortinbras nevertheless allows Shakespeare to deepen his exploration of major themes such as the psychology of revenge and dimensions of heroism. The audience learns in Act 1, Scene 1 that Fortinbras has lost his father, the former king of Norway. Hamlet’s father killed Old Fortinbras in a duel, and in the aftermath of this loss, Fortinbras’s uncle became king. This line of succession parallels Claudius’s rise to power in Denmark and establishes a distinct connection between Fortinbras and Hamlet. As the action of the play begins to develop, however, Shakespeare highlights the ways in which these two princes are foils of one another. While Fortinbras sets out with an army in order to reclaim land lost in the duel, Hamlet ruminates on the message from his father’s spirit and struggles to implement his plans for revenge. Intertwining these two narratives throughout the play highlights the contrast between acting on impulse and premeditation. Given that Fortinbras survives and ultimately takes the Danish throne, Shakespeare seems to suggest that action, rather than intellect alone, is the key to success.
This value of action also emerges through characterizations of Fortinbras as heroic. When Hamlet learns of Fortinbras’s plan to take back land in Act 4, Scene 4, he delivers a soliloquy in which he seems to express admiration for his ability to act. Describing Fortinbras as possessing “divine ambition,” Hamlet views his willingness to fight for his family’s honor as a mark of greatness. Meanwhile, he laments his own failures to follow through on his vow for revenge. Fortinbras’s final appearance at the end of the play also gives him the opportunity to take on a heroic role as he restores order in the kingdom and provides closure for the audience. Through Fortinbras’s ultimate success, Shakespeare is able to offer a vision of what Hamlet’s revenge could have been were it not for his psychological impairments.
