Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragedy where everything goes wrong for the title character and the people around him. Throughout the play, characters suffer as they see their plans develop, from Claudius escalating his rule over Denmark to Laertes making a dishonorable move in his duel with Hamlet. However, there is one exception, one character in the main cast who never makes meaningful plans or faces grand regrets: Horatio. Horatio does not have a personality and character the same way other characters in Hamlet do. Horatio has no strong motivations or ambitions, offers only exposition without driving the plot forward, and does not experience tragedy and suffering the same way other characters in the play do. He only exists to provide information …show more content…
One of the first times Horatio becomes involved in the plot is when Hamlet asks him to confirm Claudius’s guilt. However, this proved unnecessary as Claudius put a dramatic stop to the end of the play the moment he realized what Hamlet knew, saying “Give me some light. Away!” (3, ii, 295) the moment he sees poison poured in the player king’s ear. Horatio is also shown to move th plot forward when he followed Hamlet’s bidding and notifying the king of Hamlet’s return to Denmark. Here, instead of writing to Horatio and asking him to “ Let the King have the letters I have sent,” (4, iv, 22-23) Hamlet insead could have sent a letter directly to Claudius for the same effect. Lastly, Hamlet’s last request to have Horatio live and tell Fortinbras his story in Act 5 Scene ii could have been replaced with Hamlet leaving a journal of his actions to Fortinbras. In this scene, Horatio repeats what he has observed in Denmark to Fortinbras because he is the only remaining character capable of telling the whole story. A journal with a record of Hamlet’s actions could replace Horatio and lead to the same reaction by Fortinbras, again showing Horatio is indeed more of a prop than a full
Throughout the story, Horatio is continuously shown as the voice of reason and clarity. He is the authority figure and it is through him that we see the truth behind the actions of Hamlet and the others. Horatio is the outside observer to the play and it is a result of his words and actions that we can ground the play in reality. Ever since the beginning of the play, Horatio is shown to be a voice of cautious reason and measured skepticism along with a voice of truth, for it was not until he saw the ghost that the ghost became a reality. This idea is clearly portrayed atop the battlements when Horatio says “Before my God, I might not this believe/ without the sensible and true avouch/ of mine own eyes.”(I.i.56-58). Here Horatio confirms that he is the “narrator” of the play and the most sensible observer. However no matter what, Horatio is still Hamlet’s friend and despite his calm mindedness, at the end...
In Act IV, scene III of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is forced to make a decision; take a sleeping potion gifted to her by Friar Laurence and risk possibly being stuck in the Capulet family tomb, or marry Paris. To her, marrying Paris is not an option and so she drinks the vile. Although, before consuming the Friar’s remedy, Juliet expresses her worries in her soliloquy. To do this, Shakespeare manipulates imagery and the rhetorical device of questioning to reveal his main character’s deepest and darkest fears.
Horatio is the most trustworthy man in the royal court, which is highly significant because he is a witness of everything that happens with Hamlet, and therefore can be trusted to tell the entirely true story of what brought about the demise of Hamlet and the entire royal court, seeing as though they were all massacred in one day. He is introduced early in the play in Act I, Scene i, and is one of the first to see the spirit of the fallen King Hamlet. Alas, he knows that there was, in fact, a ghost of the king haunting Denmark, and that Hamlet spoke with him. After Hamlet speaks with the ghost he literally tells Horatio, verbatim, "Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, how strange or odd some'er I bear myself (As i perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on." (I. ii. 189-192). So, ahead of time Hamlet warns Horatio that he is going to be putting on a show of madness but it is not real. This is noteworthy because as the play develops, other characters perceive Hamlet to become progressively more deranged, however he is always perfectly coherent and rational when speaking to Horatio, seeing as though he is the only one who knows of Hamlet's act and stability.
In the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet, David Bevington gives insight into Horatio’s character. However much Horatio’s philosophic skepticism may limit his own ability to perceive those “things in heaven and earth” that Hamlet would have him observe, Horatio remains the companion from whom Hamlet has most to learn. Hamlet can trust his friend not to angle for advancement, or to reveal the terrible secret of royal murder. Best of all, Horatio is “As one in suff’ring all that suffers nothing, A man that Fortune’s buffets and rewards Hast ta’en with equal thanks.” [. . .
The whole story of Hamlet would not have unraveled as it had were it not for Horatio. Hamlet’s quest for revenge stems from his encounter with his father’s ghost; however it was Horatio who, after seeing the ghost for himself, thought to “impart what we have seen tonight/ Unto young Hamlet…” (I.i.185-86). At the meeting with Hamlet in which Horatio and his friends arrive to tell Hamlet about the ghost, Horatio is set up to be the protagonist’s confidant for the remainder of the play. Hamlet corrects Horatio’s comment that he is Hamlet’s “poor servant ever” by saying, “Sir, my good friend. I’ll change that with you” (I.ii.168-69). Later Horatio solidifies his position as a major character by accepting Hamlet’s request to help him “Observe my uncle” for any suspicious actions during the Murder of Gonzago (III.ii.85). At this point in the play, Hamlet’s trust for Horatio has dev...
...dience that Horatio is very honorable because he is one of the two surviving characters in the play. If Horatio had the morals of everybody else in the play, he would likely be dead as well. As a result of Horatio having the traits, trustworthiness, loyalty, and admiration for Hamlet, he is able to be in the fortunate positions of Hamlet’s friend, and one of two surviving characters. Shakespeare often makes a character in his plays who is ethical and honest compared to the other characters, such as Benvolio, in Romeo and Juliet. By keeping Horatio alive, Shakespeare shows the audience that Horatio is this character in Hamlet. Although Fortinbras also survives, Horatio is morally superior, especially because of Fortinbras’ violent nature. Thus, as a result of his trustworthiness, loyalty, and admiration, Horatio is the most virtuous character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
After talking with the ghost, Hamlet, comes back to Horatio and Marcellus and tries to explain to them never to let anyone know what has happened. Both are very scared but agree to the prince’s, but both are still looking to find out what happened between the ghost and him. Further on in the evening Hamlet takes Horatio to the side and explains to him that no matter how odd he acted that Horatio say nothing. (And therefore as a stranger-you most need help you Act1 sc5 line 187-202) He basically explained to Horatio that he was going to be acting much differently than normal, and he told him not to ask questions. This here proves he knew what he was going to have to do. It shows that he was willing to get his revenge by any way possible.
William Shakespeare wrote about a distraught prince trying to avenge the wrongful death of his father while all his faith in honesty and the good of man was nearly destroyed. In his play Hamlet, Hamlet is the prince and he is the one who would have lost all his faith in the good of man had it not been for his loyal friend Horatio. Many critics say that Horatio did not play such an important role in the tragedy, that he merely was the informant for the audience and that his character was not developed beyond that fact that he was just the honest confidant of Hamlet. That may be true, however, Horatio does serve two central purposes to the drama, and it is through these purposes that show the qualities that make Horatio memorable and admirable. Horatio is the harbinger of truth. It is through Horatio that the actions taken by Hamlet gain credibility. He is the outside observer to the madness. Hamlet could soliloquize on and on, but it is his conversations with Horatio that gives sanity to Hamlet’s thoughts. His second role is to be the loyal, truthful confidant of Hamlet.
In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the confidant Horatio is created to serve a number of different purposes. Horatio is a flat character. He is a loyal, obedient, and trustworthy companion to Hamlet. His character does not undergo any significant transformation throughout the play, except that he serves as a witness of the death of Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude. Horatio's role in the play seems to be as a utilitarian character that Shakespeare created in order to heighten the suspense of the play. Also for Horatio to be Hamlet's ear so as to appease the audience's ear, and to communicate the moral of the play.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Horatio plays a quintessential role in gaining a deeper understanding on the perplexing tragic hero, Hamlet, from the perspective he has about him. Horatio’s sensible ideology becomes apparent as he takes on the role of the spokesman of common sense, attempting to advise the stubborn tragic hero about his destructive journey towards revenge. Additionally, because of the true friendship Horatio presents Hamlet, it leads him to confide in Horatio about his secrets and plans, thus highlighting his essential role in bringing out Hamlet’s true intentions. Hamlet’s death becomes more meaningful as a result of Horatio’s approval of Hamlet and the devotion he shows Hamlet until the end, which
There are many ways to interpret Hamlet 's relationship with Horatio. Most obviously, Horatio is the only person in the play that Hamlet trusts. He is the only one who knows for certain that Hamlet 's madness is an act, the one person Hamlet confides in personally, and the one whom bids Hamlet goodnight upon his death. Considering his conflicts with his family, Horatio is the only "family" Hamlet has. He understands that Horatio is very rational and thoughtful, yet not overly pensieve like himself. As the play continues, Horatio questions Hamlet 's judgment twice. Once is when Hamlet tells him of a letter from King Claudius that he has found in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern 's pack, telling the King of England that he must have Hamlet killed. The second instance is when Hamlet tells Horatio that he will fight Laertes, son of Polonius, who Hamlet killed earlier in the play. Horatio loves Hamlet with all his heart, but he is directed by a more sensible disposition, which makes him to speak the truth to Hamlet, despite the fact that Hamlet never once takes Horatio 's warnings. In fact, there is only a single point in the play at which Horatio loses his sensible outlook, and it is but a momentary loss. At the end of the play, when Hamlet is killed in his fight with Laertes, Horatio, in his grief, offers to kill himself with his own sword. It is Hamlet 's dying request that Horatio tell
Horatio, you’re about to know everything. I’ll start with telling you the letter I wrote to the King of England.
The connection never weakened, it became stronger as Hamlet and Horatio were inseparable. As Hamlet persisted and executed his plans, it was Horatio, who guided him to master his plan against Claudius. An astute man, who along Hamlet brought to clarity the dark, untold story of King Hamlet’s death and the person behind the silent murder. “Observe my uncle” (Act 3. Sc. 2, line 85), words from Hamlet to Horatio before the discovery. The plan consisted in the death of Claudius, one that would pay King Hamlet’s
...hen he wants to clearly communicate the truth or show an issue from a certain perspective, he uses Horatio’s credibility. Horatio illuminates the consequences Hamlet may face and as an outside observer, allows the reader a glimpse inside Hamlet’s mind. Hamlet’s admiration of Horatio shows what Hamlet considers important in a man. Horatio, in contrast, shows Hamlet’s deep character flaws and allows the reader a deeper insight to who Hamlet actually is, not who he claims to be through his soliloquies. In the end, Horatio himself becomes a playwright, using bodies the tell the tragic tale of Prince Hamlet.
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