Hamlet
In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare proposed two kinds of men. Horatio is the
character who represents a man of thought. The other kind of man is represented by
Fortinbras, a man of action. Hamlet is the character that manages to be both, thought
and action. Hamlet failed to avenge his father's death because he was both. According
to Shakespeare in the play Hamlet, a man could not succeed if ge was both action and thought.
The most evident man of thought in the play was Horatio. Horatio sees the world with
the eyes of a scholar and views things in a logical manner. Horatio sees the ghost and
Hamlet says ' There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in
your philosophy' (1.5.166-168). This reveals Horatio's attitude to the audience.
It shows that Horatio only believes in what scholars say. Study is his only purpose
I life.
He is admired and used by others for his knowledge, The audience becomes
aware of this admiration when the soldiers use Horatio the speak with the ghost.
Marcellus says 'Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio' ( 1.1.42). The
soldiers need Horatio because he is an educated man. As a man of thought Horatio
has a significant role in helping society.
Fortinbras is a man of action. He takes action before he thinks about the consequences
of his actions. The king is making use of these characteristics when he says
'we have to writ to Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras--Who impotent and bed-rid,
scarcely hears of his nephew's purpose to suppress his further gait' (1.2.29-32).
In this quote the king has stopped Fortinbras' invasion of Denmark. The king was
able to do this because Fortinbras didn't consider what would happen if His...