Act IV, scene iv: Enter Fortinbras with his Army [Marching]

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The famous young Fortinbras, Norwegian crown prince first mentioned in the opening 100 lines of the play and referred to subsequently in Act II, finally makes his entrance; embarking on the 'promis'd march' (IV.iv.3) - the permission earlier granted for him to cross Denmark in order to battle over a piece of land now in Polish possession.

More on the significance of this in Hanratty's Episode 121 of The Hamlet podcast. I can't think of a better way to spend seven minutes of your life at this point.

Fortinbras encounters Hamlet, and so there together on stage are two young princes, both caught up in the business of avenging the deaths of their fathers. Except that perhaps Fortinbras is getting on with his a little more purposefully than Hamlet who may be guilty of 'thinking too precisely on th'event' (IV.iv.41) as he himself observes. 

Indeed, his soliloquy begins by stating the way in which every event and encounter reminds him of his own failures and inadequacy, 'How all occasions do inform against me/And spur my dull revenge' (IV.iv.32-33). 

In addition to your own summary and notes, 

  • Write a summary of Hamlet's soliloquy, considering how it revisits some of Hamlet's prior thoughts about the nature of man. Think back to 'To be or not to be' particularly.
  • Create your own soliloquy wordle and compare with the two previous ones we have looked at in class. Use the three together to freewrite about the development of Hamlet’s ideas and preoccupations.

And two films with armies referenced today...


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