The Prince of Norway who serves as a foil to Hamlet. He represents decisive action and military leadership, ultimately inheriting the Danish throne.

Who they are

Fortinbras appears briefly but crucially as a contrast to Hamlet's indecision. While Hamlet contemplates revenge, Fortinbras actively leads armies to reclaim lost honor. His arrival at Elsinore in Act 5 provides the play's resolution, as he assumes control of Denmark after the royal family's destruction. He represents the capable ruler Denmark needs after its corruption.

Playing them

Play with military authority and crisp efficiency. Use clear, commanding vocal delivery with minimal emotional display. Physicality should be upright and purposeful—every movement has intention. In the final scene, balance genuine sorrow for the carnage with natural assumption of command.

Appearance

Typically appears in military attire with practical armor. His entrance in Act 5 should create a striking visual contrast to the bloodied court—clean, organized, and commanding immediate respect.

Worth knowing

Based on the historical Fortinbras (or Fortinbrass), a Norwegian nobleman mentioned in Scandinavian chronicles. Shakespeare likely adapted the name from his sources to create this symbolic character.

Where they appear

Act 4, Scene 4 2 speeches
Act 5, Scene 2 4 speeches

Shakespeare the way it was meant to be had — out loud

These plays were written to be performed, not silently read. Yorick is a rehearsal app that lets you perform them: you take a part in any of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, and Yorick reads every other role aloud, listens while you speak your lines, keeps your place, and prompts you the moment you dry.

It is built for the person who has to be off book by tech week — school and college productions, community theatre, festivals, drama students and classical auditions — and for anyone who wants to hear a scene rather than skim it. Alongside the performance you get a plain-English translation of every speech, scene context, performance notes, and the ability to ask about any line and get an answer that already knows the play, the scene and who is speaking.

The text is the public-domain Cambridge/Globe edition. Translations and notes are AI-generated rehearsal aids for actors and students, not a scholarly apparatus. Yorick runs in a browser with nothing to install, and on iPhone and Android.