How do the characters of Laertes and Fortinbras highlight Hamlet's fatal flaw of inaction?
Check the character analysis at this site.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/
also check the character analysis at
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-121.html
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From Absolute Shakespeare, here is a character analysis:
To understand how the characters of Laertes and Fortinbras highlight Hamlet's fatal flaw of inaction, it is essential to analyze their roles in the play. Specifically, comparing Hamlet's indecisiveness to the proactive nature of Laertes and Fortinbras gives us insight into his flaw.
Firstly, Laertes is portrayed as a passionate and impulsive character. Unlike Hamlet, who spends a considerable amount of time contemplating his actions, Laertes takes immediate action when he learns of his father's death. He storms back to Denmark, seeking revenge against his father's killer, taking charge of the situation without hesitation. Laertes' active pursuit of justice serves as a sharp contrast to Hamlet's inaction, emphasizing Hamlet's inability to act decisively.
Similarly, Fortinbras serves as a foil character to Hamlet. Fortinbras is driven by ambition and determination, constantly seeking to regain the lands lost by his father. While Hamlet is stagnant, brooding over his father's death and the betrayal by his mother and uncle, Fortinbras is actively pursuing his goals. He even leads an army into Denmark to reclaim the lost territory, demonstrating his resolute nature. This stark contrast highlights Hamlet's passivity and hamartia of inaction.
To delve deeper into the details of these characters and their specific interactions with Hamlet, you can refer to the provided sources. SparkNotes and CliffsNotes offer character analyses that provide extensive information about their roles, motivations, and impact on the plot. These resources will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of how Laertes and Fortinbras shed light on Hamlet's fatal flaw of inaction.