Explain the scholar/soldier syndrome in Shakespeare's Hamlet?
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Hamlet
I think Hamlet is more of a scholar and not really much of a soldier. Hamlet is not really a man of action; he spends a lot of time philosophizing and talking to himself. Fortinbras is the complete opposite -- he's the soldier. When Fortinbras' forces pass through Denmark, Hamlet talks to one of the soldiers of the Norwegian army. Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbras, "How stand I then?", and critiques himself for procrastinating while he admires Fortinbras' action-oriented state of mind.
It's sort of ironic because Hamlet is referred to as a soldier not only by Fortinbras but also by Ophelia; however, this characteristic of Hamlet is not seen by the audience, and it seems that Hamlet would rather continue his academic work at Wittenberg fight for his father's honor.
It's sort of ironic because Hamlet is referred to as a soldier not only by Fortinbras but also by Ophelia; however, this characteristic of Hamlet is not seen by the audience, and it seems that Hamlet would rather continue his academic work at Wittenberg fight for his father's honor.
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