What Does Young Fortinbras Want to Do?
Young Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, is driven by two main desires:
- To avenge his father's death
- To reclaim the lands lost by his father to Denmark
Details and Evidence
- After his father (Old Fortinbras) was killed by King Hamlet (Prince Hamlet's father), young Fortinbras feels compelled to restore his family's honor and recover the territory lost in that conflict
- He gathers an army of mercenaries and "lawless resolutes" on the outskirts of Norway, preparing to invade Denmark and retake the disputed lands by force if necessary
- His intentions are made clear early in the play, as Horatio explains that Fortinbras is "hot and full" and has recruited fighters to "recover of us by strong hand...those foresaid lands so by his father lost"
- Although Fortinbras is initially set on attacking Denmark, he is persuaded by his uncle (the current King of Norway) to redirect his campaign toward Poland instead. Nevertheless, his original motivation remains the reclamation of his father's lost honor and territory
Summary Table
Motivation| Action
---|---
Avenge father's death| Assembles an army, seeks confrontation
Reclaim lost Norwegian land| Plans to invade Denmark, then attacks Poland
Fortinbras serves as a foil to Hamlet: while Hamlet hesitates and contemplates, Fortinbras is decisive and takes action to achieve his goals
