Why Is Horatio Important In Hamlet

While it may sound backwards, the goal of a tragedy is to uplift the reader. This seems especially counterintuitive in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a play about revenge, murder, and madness. An ending where nearly everyone dies does not seem uplifting at all. However, Horatio, the only surviving main character, helps end the story on a relatively happy note. Tragedies end with the cleansing of a society and hope for a better future. After the cleansing, which in this case is a duel where most of the characters die, Horatio represents a new hope. He agrees to Hamlet’s request to tell Fortinbras what transpired in Elsinore, and therefore ensures that Hamlet’s legacy will live on. Even before this, Horatio provides positivity to the darkness and betrayal of the story. He is nearly always present to warn Hamlet from venturing

Horatio once again discourages Hamlet from entering a dangerous situation. When a Lord informs Hamlet that the Queen wants him to duel Laertes, Horatio warns that he will lose. Even with the knowledge that Hamlet has committed murder and plans to do it again, Horatio still tries to preserve Hamlet’s safety. His actions, or lack thereof, during the duel itself also provide strong insight into the purpose of Horatio’s singularity as a character. In his paper about Horatio’s narrative ability, David Thatcher criticizes the way Horatio remains “conspicuously silent” for much of the play, including the duel scene (248). However, this characteristic is what sets Horatio apart from the other characters. He stays silent during the duel to express his opposition to violence. This silence speaks more than words could about his removal from the most violent scene in the play. By staying on the sidelines, Horatio stands in contrast to the violence and chaos on the playing field and remains an unwavering moral compass for