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Hamlet 104302 Views


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Description:

In the world of Shakespeare, pretty much everyone either dies or gets married. Hamlet and co. got the short end of that stick.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:00

Hamlet, a la Shmoop. This little piggy went to Denmark.

00:08

Let us get something straight right off the bat. “Hamlet” is not an omelet filled

00:14

with ham.

00:17

Although that sounds delicious, the Hamlet we’re talking about is even worse for you.

00:20

Especially if you happen to be hiding behind a tapestry.

00:23

In fact, so many people die in Hamlet…

00:25

… that Rambo has body count envy. So if practically everyone gets sent to meet

00:33

their maker…

00:34

…why does this Fortinbras guy… who’s only in the play for two-point-two seconds…

00:39

get to make it out alive? First of all, Fortinbras shows up just after

00:44

all the madness and bloodshed has wrapped.

00:47

Pretty convenient if you ask us.

00:49

So… was it simply a matter of good timing?

00:52

Everyone who had a problem with anyone was already pushing up daisies by the time he

00:56

came traipsing through the door…

00:58

…so maybe good fortune was just shining on the guy.

01:01

It’s good to be the Prince. But would Shakespeare have spared the guy

01:06

just because he arrived on the scene fashionably late?

01:12

We know how much Billy Shakes loved bumping his characters off… surely he had a better

01:16

reason? Was it because he wanted to comment on the

01:19

scene of death and destruction left in Hamlet’s wake?

01:23

Horatio was one of the fortunate few who witnessed all the carnage and lived to tell the tale…

01:28

…and it was only fitting that he acted as a narrator in the waning moments…

01:33

…but having Fortinbras stroll in gives Horatio someone’s ear he can bend.

01:39

Otherwise, Horatio would have had to deliver a monologue…

01:42

…and Hamlet had already fulfilled the monologue quota for the day.

01:49

But wait… when has Shakespeare ever shied away from ending with a big ol’ monologue?

01:54

Was there another reason Fortinbras gets to keep breathing?

01:57

Perhaps he was a foil for Hamlet.

01:59

In other words, maybe we are supposed to see the drastically different lives of these two

02:04

princes, and contrast them.

02:06

By witnessing the military success and lack of emotional turmoil exhibited by this Prince…

02:11

…we can imagine where Hamlet might be today if he hadn’t been dealt such an unfortunate

02:15

set of circumstances. Did Fortinbras simply avoid the sweet release

02:20

of death because of an uncanny sense of timing?

02:23

Was he nothing more than a literary device, so that Horatio had someone to tell his story

02:27

to?

02:28

Or was he meant to represent Hamlet… new and improved?

02:41

Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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