Plunged into his own madness, the prince of Denmark seeks to avenge the premature death of his father. Claude must die, die, die! Nothing else matters: neither love, nor death, nor the preservation of the state, nor the means with which the task is accomplished. Fixing what's wrong is the only priority that matters. Hamlet, blinded by his own emotional transitions, does not realize until too late that his northern counterpart is also plotting and preparing. As one of the first writers to develop dynamic, complex characters that leave readers questioning and interpreting the characters' actions for themselves, Shakespeare understood better than anyone "what work is a man!" » (2.2.305). In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare expresses this idea of ​​the complexity of man through his casting of Prince Hamlet. By understanding the significance of Fortinbras' role and function, it provides further innuendo about Hamlet's character. Although their predispositions are similar, one is defined by a growing sense of certainty and determination while the other is plagued by madness and indecision, and while Fortinbras is destined for success, Hamlet sails towards his own fateful fall. Fortinbras functions as a foil for Hamlet. throughout the piece. His situation parallels Hamlet's disposition as they enter the plot of the play. Both are princes of their own countries, their fathers were murdered, and both are about to become the next heir to the throne. The only obstacles preventing them from accessing the throne are their uncles, privileged successors of their fathers. As Hamlet seeks revenge on his own uncle for murdering his father in cold blood, Fortinbras' father is murdered by the hands of H...... middle of paper ...... is a plan which comes to fruition after the events of the play, while Hamlet exists only as a memory. Fortinbras does what Hamlet could never do. Perhaps most importantly, Fortinbras acts decisively and lives as Hamlet's fiasco results in tragedy. By exposing and emphasizing Hamlet's many strengths and weaknesses as they appear throughout the play, Fortinbras is, in some ways, the antithesis of Hamlet's tragic flaw. Although the Prince of Norway helps to understand Hamlet, he does not fully describe the inner workings of the protagonist, thus testifying to the complexity of an individual and the genius of Shakespeare. Some have dissected the character of Hamlet for years. While some characteristics can be attributed, others may only remain questions. As people continue to discover Hamlet, other sides will reveal themselves.