Fortinbras

Prince Fortinbras
Hamlet character
Created byWilliam Shakespeare
In-universe information
AffiliationHamlet (by the end)
FamilyKing Fortinbras (father)

Fortinbras /ˈfɔːrtɪnbræs/ is a minor fictional character from William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. A Norwegian crown prince with a few brief scenes in the play, he delivers the final lines that represent a hopeful future for the monarchy of Denmark and its subjects. His father, the fictional former king of Norway, is also named Fortinbras and was slain in the play's antecedent action in a duel with King Hamlet.[1][2] The duel between the two is described by Horatio in Act One, Scene One (I,i) of the play.

His name is not Norwegian in origin, but is a French–English hybrid (fort in bras) meaning "strong in arm."[3][4]

  1. ^ Eissler, K. R. (1968). "Fortinbras and Hamlet". American Imago. 25 (3): 199–223. JSTOR 26302343. PMID 4889222.
  2. ^ Levin, Richard A. (1996). "Fortinbras and the "Conveyance of a Promisd March"". CEA Critic. 58 (2): 9–23. JSTOR 44377167.
  3. ^ Michael, Best. "The ending: Fortinbras :: Life and Times :: Internet Shakespeare Editions". internetshakespeare.uvic.ca.
  4. ^ "Hamlet by William Shakespeare - English literature course notes - Tower Notes". www.towernotes.co.uk.