In Hamlet the character of Fortinbras, a young Norwegian prince, has been used to contrast the main character Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet and Fortinbras have both lost their fathers to untimely deaths, and are both at roughly the same stations in life. Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, was killed by his uncle Claudius and Fortinbras' father was killed by King Hamlet. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras have vowed to take revenge on the death of their fathers, however, their means of revenge reflect their particular personalities. Fortinbras' quick, determined action is a dynamic opposite to Hamlet's inaction and provides a mirror for Hamlet showing his thoughts and weaknesses to himself and to the audience.
             Hamlet, after learning that his father's death was a murder and promising to take revenge, waits to corroborate the absolute truth before he even attempts to take revenge on Claudius. Even after the play within the play confirms Claudius is the murderer, Hamlet hesitates to kill him. Fortinbras, on the other hand, has been taking action even before the play begins to avenge his father 's death. As the play opens, we learn that Denmark is in a state of alert on Fortinbras ' account. The audience learns that the country has been preparing for a war, and from Horatio, the audience also learns that the young Fortinbras is getting ready his "lawless resolutes" for action against Denmark for the killing of his father and for the return of lands previously owned by Norway, (Hamlet I. i. 90-102). Here we see a stark contrast in the action of Fortinbras, and the inaction of Hamlet. The differences between them are further underscored in Hamlet's last soliloquy, (Hamlet IV. iv.). Before the soliloquy begins, Hamlet has been informed by one of Fortinbras' Captains that Norway is preparing to fight Poland over a "little patch of land", and that twenty thousand men are willing to fight for this worthless piece of...