| − | Francisco is apparently not of high rank, or he would not have been assigned to nighttime guard duty. However, he must be of high enough rank to be considered fully loyal and trustworthy, and able to carry out important assignments on his own. The sentinel duty is vital, as Denmark fears attack from Fortinbrasse's forces from Norway, an attack which could come at any time (that's why the watch is being kept.) In modern terms, it means Francisco has to be more than a private, but almost certainly less than a captain. He could be anything from a corporal to a lieutenant, with the rank of sergeant a fair bet. Francisco is called "honest soldier" by Marcellus, and our word "sergeant" comes from Middle English where it meant "common soldier." That's not conclusive, that Francisco is a sergeant, but it is suggestive. (The word "sergeant" does appear in the play, in the final Scene.) Further consideration of the sentinels' ranks, and other points, can be found on the [[Sentinels]] page. | + | Francisco is apparently not of very high rank, or he would not have been assigned to nighttime guard duty. However, he must be of high enough rank to be considered fully loyal and trustworthy, and able to carry out important assignments on his own. The sentinel duty is vital, as Denmark fears attack from Fortinbrasse's forces from Norway, an attack which could come at any time (that's why the watch is being kept.) In modern terms, it means Francisco has to be more than a private, but almost certainly less than a captain. He could be anything from a corporal to a lieutenant, with the rank of sergeant a fair bet. |