hts on how much time has passed and he still hasn't done anything. He says: "How all occasions do inform against me,And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,If his chief good and market of his timeBe but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more."(Hamlet IV.iv. 32-35) In these lines, Hamlet is thinking about all the time he has wasted in not taking action. He sees how everything around him is taking shape, all except his own actions. He goes on to say "Sure, he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not that capability and god-like reason to fust in us unus'd "(36-39) Here Hamlet is saying that every man has reason, and that reason should be put to good use. He also expresses the thought that he has "......cause and will and strength and means to do't" (45-46) but still waits and thinks instead of taking action. Next, Hamlet goes on to describes Fortinbras. He asks the audience to: "Witness this army of such mass and chargeLed by a delicate and tender prince,Whose spirit with divine ambition puf'dMakes mouths at the invisible event,Exposing what is mortal and unsureTo all that fortune, death and danger dare,Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be greatIs not to stir without great argument,But greatly to find quarrel in a strawWhen honour's at the stake." (47-56) These lines are describing Fortinbras. The audience learns that Fortinbras is this young, driven, and ambitious prince who is willing to risk everything for what he feels he must do and achieve, even if it's for an "egg-shell". He is willing to risk so much for so little just for his honor. This is a great con- trast to Hamlet's own character. Hamlet then finishes his soli- loquy with a comparison to his situation and that of Fortinbras and his army of twenty-thousand men. After learning of Fortinbras' plan against Poland, Hamlet is disgusted with his inability to avenge his father's murder. He wonders why he has "let all sleep" after his father's wr...
