I chose Fortinbras as my character. I’m still not 100%
certain that I am going to do Fortinbras since he only talks like four times
throughout the play. The audience is first introduced to him at the beginning of
the play but through other characters’ words. I am interested in how he is referred
to by other characters and then how he talks himself and if there are any
similarities or differences.
I am also interested since Fortinbras has the last words
in the entire play even though he is a minor character.
Another interesting idea is that Hamlet and Fortinbras
are connected; Hamlet’s father killed Fortinbras’ father and both Hamlet and
Fortinbras are trying to get revenge for their father. But they never actually
interact with each other. They are also foils in the sense Fortinbras is an “active”
character while Hamlet is not.
Close Reading time!!!
Fortinbras first words:
“This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
iamb iamb iamb iamb
iamb
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
iamb iamb iamb iamb
iamb
That thou so many princes at a shot
That thou so many princes at a shot
iamb iamb iamb pyrrhic
iamb
So bloodily hast struck.”
So bloodily hast struck.”
iamb pyrrhic iamb
The first lines from Fortinbras all are masculine rhyme.
Fortinbras is talking about how all the characters are dead.
Masculine rhyme emphasizes the definiteness of death. This is the end of the
play and all the characters are dead – that is the end. He also comes in the
play as confident with his lines since they end in stresses. He realizes that
this is his time to take over the throne of Denmark. He does not always speak
in pentameter. Perhaps Shakespeare is trying to differentiate him from the
other characters. He is an outsider who comes in and achieves his goal of not just regaining
his fathers’ lands of Norway but also the throne of Denmark.
The first time Fortinbras is mentioned to the audience is
through Horatio:
“His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
iamb iamb anapest spondee
iamb
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
iamb iamb iamb iamb
catalectic
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
trochee iamb iamb
iamb iamb
Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes,
Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes,
trochee iamb iamb
iamb iamb
For food and diet, to some enterprise
For food and diet, to some enterprise
iamb iamb iamb iamb
iamb
That hath a stomach in't; which is no other—
That hath a stomach in't; which is no other—
iamb iamb iamb anapest trochee
As it doth well appear unto our state--
As it doth well appear unto our state--
iamb iamb iamb iamb iamb
But to recover of us, by strong hand
But to recover of us, by strong hand
iamb iamb anapest iamb catalectic
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands
iamb iamb iamb iamb iamb catalectic
So by his father lost: and this, I take it,
So by his father lost: and this, I take it,
iamb iamb iamb dactyl trochee
Is the main motive of our preparations,
Is the main motive of our preparations,
trochee spondee anapest trochee trochee
The source of this our watch and the chief head
The source of this our watch and the chief head
iamb iamb iamb pyrrhic spondee
Of this post-haste and romage in the land.”
Of this post-haste and romage in the land.”
pyrrhic spondee iamb iamb iamb
In this scene, Horatio and Barnardo are discussing why they are on guard and why Denmark is manufacturing lots of weapons. Horatio then explains that the rumor is young Fortinbras wants to take back his father's land. Horatio talks in pentameter except for one line. Overall, he is being quite subjective of Fortinbras stating that he is bold but has yet to prove himself - "of unimproved mettle hot and full." This line ends on a catalectic which highlights that we aren't sure yet what to think of Fortinbras yet. Catalectics occur when Horatio is explaining that Fortinbras is attempting to get back his father's land. This means that it might happen but no one is certain; these are after all rumors. The fact that these lines end in masculine rhyme give off a connotation that Fortinbras will eventually avenge his father, even if it is deferred in Act II. Horatio's story about Fortinbras ends on the stressed word "lost" which not only means that Fortinbras' father lost his land but also his life. Shakespeare also uses some interesting terms with food, diet, and stomach. Literally, it means that Fortinbras is giving these lawless people food to fight for him but perhaps there is something deeper. Overall, it seems Horatio has the right idea about Fortinbras.
Some questions:
Are my close readings okay?
Did I totally mess up the stress/unstress stuff?
What do you think about Fortinbras as a character? Why did Shakespeare put him in? What is his purpose?
Why do you think we never meet him until the very end and why does he get to end the play?
I think in addition to analyzing the times that the other characters mention Fortinbras in the play, you could look at how their descriptions compare to descriptions of Hamlet. I think Fortinbras having the last word is a statement about the advantages of direct action, and boldness, as opposed to the mental strategies of Hamlet. I think we never meet him until the end so that we can see an alternative that could have happened for Hamlet had he acted differently.
ReplyDeleteSomething we talked in class was the idea that Fortinbras isn't a parallel or foil to Hamlet, but rather the middle ground between Hamlet and Laertes. Hamlet plans. Laertes is rash. Fortinbras is rash and plans! I think that Shakespeare is not only commenting on which traits are ideal and which traits lead to death, but whether combinations of these traits have entirely unique outcomes. You could even add to that point by linking Horatio and Fortinbras and what separates their characters where they both survive.
ReplyDeleteOn a tangent, in the graveyard scene , Hamlet learns that the only thing that lives on after death and that separates people from each other in death is the impression they leave on those living (like Yorick on Hamlet). As Hamlet dies, he reiterates exactly that, telling Horatio to make sure his story lives on. In terms of why Fortinbras gets the last word in (except for in the Long Beach Shakespeare Company version!), I think a large factor is the fact that he is an outsider. The play could really just be considered an extended conversation about death; therefore what's most important is how Hamlet, the protagonist, is viewed after death, not just by those who know him well (Horatio), but by those who don't.
Good Luck!
Fortinbras enters at the end and speaks exclusively in masculine rhyme, emphasizing, through sound, that everyone is dead--there are no more stories to tell. This contrasts with Hamlet's desire for Horatio to tell his story, and it adds to the reading that Prof. Anderson offered last week: Fortinbras speaks in the condition, and therefore Hamlet may never "be." The masculine rhymes foreclose a being before it can ever come into existence. As you say, Fortinbras doesn't even get to interact with Hamlet alive. If he didn't see the alive Hamlet, then Hamlet never existed within the purview of his perception (and it is HIS perception that concludes the play... "Hamlet" doesn't have a role in his perception). So the play seems to come down on "not to be." There is no fem rhyme. Not to be. There is no question.
ReplyDeleteIt's ironic how little Fortinbras speaks in the play, but has such a significant role in the play. His lack of lines highlight his density as a character. He's the exact opposite of Hamlet in that way: Hamlet always has a lot to say. He's eloquent and goes on and on and on and on. Fortinbras, on the other hand, says practically nothing. Of course, there's the obvious reason that he's not a main character in the play. But aside from that, doesn't it go to show how actions speak louder than words? Fortinbras isn't about words and contemplation and hesitation; he's about going out and doing something, not wasting time sitting back and pondering the value of life. Hamlet always thinks about doing something, while Fortinbras is doing things to think about. (Does that even make sense?)
ReplyDeleteOverall, I think your close readings are pretty good. You did a really good job analyzing the feet/meter, but I think you also need to close-read other things. Don't forget Hamlet's soliloquy on the way to London after he finds out about Fortinbras's plans. Even though it's not something Fortinbras says himself, the speech says a lot about him. So I'd suggest looking over that and maybe taking a few key words and phrases out.
In my honest opinion, I think Fortinbras is there to give insight to Hamlet. In fact, I think all of the characters, though unique in his or her own ways, are all there to give Hamlet shape and show his growth. The play is called Hamlet, after all. Fortinbras is there to emphasize Hamlet's idleness and his cowardliness.
I think we don't meet him until the end because he doesn't really matter until the end. The end of the play is when we fully realize where all that thinking got Hamlet; he did get to avenge his father by killing Claudius, but he lost his own life too. Fortinbras, on the other hand, comes marching in and gains a whole country. He is what Hamlet could have been; he's the guy that Hamlet ultimately failed to be. I think that's something really valuable we take away at the end of the play. It really has an impact on us as readers.