In Hamlet, why did the Norwegian army have to go through Denmark to get to Poland?

Good question. But the point of the Norwegians going through Denmark is for Hamlet to see Fortinbras leading an army into action, while Hamlet remains inactive in going about avenging his father's murder; and at the end of the play, Fortinbras marches back into Denmark to restore order (except in various versions where he is omitted at the end). There must be thousands of online articles about Hamlet out there, try reading a few about him and/or Fortinbras. You could also check out any edition of Hamlet or Shakespeare's Complete Plays that have introductions to each play, and read the one on Hamlet. The important point here isn't navigation, but the contrast between the Fortinbras and Hamlet.
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