The entirety of Shakespeare’s Hamlet focuses on Hamlet’s endeavors to find hope to continue living and avenge his father’s death. This theme is established very quickly, and both his depression and his appointment for revenge are present by the end of the first act. While he has motive and opportunity to act, he finds himself constantly unable to act. He dwells on his own inactivity throughout the story, constantly comparing himself and his actions to those of others with far less to act for. In act four, he is presented with the ultimate example of this, and he resolves himself to action.
Scene four of act four shows Hamlet and a Captain of the Norwegian army discussing the army’s battle plans. Hamlet discovers that the Norwegian army, lead by Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, plans to attack and take a small hill held by the Polish. Fortinbras plays a significant role as the head of the army, as his ultimate goal is to seek revenge for the death of his own father. Hamlet recognizes the similarity between himself and Fortinbras, as well as the marked difference in their efforts to exact revenge. Fortinbras is willing to send an army to get what he wants, but Hamlet is not even able to directly avenge his father by killing his uncle.
Scene four of act four shows Hamlet and a Captain of the Norwegian army discussing the army’s battle plans. Hamlet discovers that the Norwegian army, lead by Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, plans to attack and take a small hill held by the Polish. Fortinbras plays a significant role as the head of the army, as his ultimate goal is to seek revenge for the death of his own father. Hamlet recognizes the similarity between himself and Fortinbras, as well as the marked difference in their efforts to exact revenge. Fortinbras is willing to send an army to get what he wants, but Hamlet is not even able to directly avenge his father by killing his uncle.
Hamlet also compares himself to the Norwegian army. The army has been sent to take an extremely insignificant piece of land and will lose “twenty thousand men” in the process. This idea of futile passion has been presented before, notably in the players’ actions, but Hamlet understands that it is much more serious here. He is ashamed that he cannot act for himself and his father when thousands of men are willing to fight die for a purpose that means nothing to them.
Hamlet closes the scene by saying, “O, from this time forth, / my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.” This scene’s closing represents the culmination of all of the events that Hamlet has seen thus far in the play. He has argued with himself over whether or not he should act at all and struggled to find motivation to carry out his purpose. As act four comes to a close, Hamlet is now fully prepared to avenge his father.
Hamlet closes the scene by saying, “O, from this time forth, / my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth.” This scene’s closing represents the culmination of all of the events that Hamlet has seen thus far in the play. He has argued with himself over whether or not he should act at all and struggled to find motivation to carry out his purpose. As act four comes to a close, Hamlet is now fully prepared to avenge his father.
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