The Role of Fortinbras in Shakespeare's Hamlet

A good number of plays has a central character who is seeking an item they think is rightly deserved to them. Fortinbras happens to be the character whom fits this mold. He is seeking the land of Denmark that his father lost via the defeat by Hamlet Sr. in battle. Phasing him out of the play itself would decrease the element of competition and comparison between himself and hamlet. Fortinbras is simply seeking to gain the control of the land he think he deserves. He also serves as Hamlet's nemesis throughout the story seeking to triumph over him. Those are what make him a man on a mission.

The emergence of Fortinbras comes about in the beginning of Act 4. His quest begins with a trip to the coast of Denmark to ask for access to a piece of land in the middle of Denmark. The land ends up being worth nothing more than a few coins. Hamlet basically tells to the face of Fortinbras and his accompying army that battle and the potential loss of life are not worth all the trouble. "Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducurs will not debate the question of this straw. This is th' impostume of much wealth and peace, that inward breaks, and shows no cause without why the man dies. I humbly thank you sir." (IV.iv.25-29) As you can see, Hamlet is not about to lose lives over this puny piece of land. This ordeal brings to a close the first installment in Fortinbras' quest for land in Denmark.