William Shakespeare's tragic play, Hamlet, has many characters that are involved with the story. However, some characters observe more than others. One of these characters is Horatio. In the play Hamlet, Horatio is the person Hamlet wants to become, he enforces the theme of loyalty, and gives credibility to what is happening.
From the beginning, Horatio is loyal to Hamlet. When Horatio sees the ghost of King Hamlet, he says that he will, “...impart what [they] have seen tonight unto young Hamlet (1.1.184).” Horatio is decisive and quickly takes action because he believes it’s his duty as a faithful friend to tell Hamlet what they have seen. Horatio does not think to tell Claudius, the current king of Denmark, what he has seen. Instead, Horatio
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When Hamlet sends a letter to Horatio, Horatio does not question what Hamlet’s letter that is sent. Instead, Horatio tells the sailors to lead him to Hamlet and follows without hesitation (4.6.31-33). Even when Hamlet belittles and disrespects Horatio, he is still faithful to Hamlet. After Hamlet belittles Horatio he commands him to, “Observe [his] uncle (3.2.85).” Horatio accepts and if Claudius, “...steal aught the whilst this play is playing And ‘scape (detecting), [he] will pay the theft (3.2.93-95).” Horatio is faithful towards Hamlet even in Hamlet’s death. When Hamlet is taking his final breaths, he trusts Horatio to tell the story of his death. Even after his death, Horatio agrees to tell Hamlet’s tale. When Fortinbras marches in Horatio clears Hamlet’s name and makes sure to tell the full story of what has taken place (5.2.414-428).
Horatio is loyal to Hamlet and he gives credibility of what is happening. Horatio is the level headed guy who, “...is not passion’s slave (3.2.77).” Horatio thinks things through and questions what is unreasonable. When Marcellus says, “Horatio [thinks] ‘tis but our fantasy And will not let belief take hold of him…(1.1.28),” it shows that Horatio is skeptical and looks at the problem realistically.
During the first act of the play, Hamlet tells Horatio “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, how strange or odd soe'er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on), that you, at such times seeing me, never shall—with arms encumbered thus, or this headshake” (I, ii, 170). Hamlet is telling Horatio that he is going to act crazy in order to lea...
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.
Hamlet was able to proceed with his revenge: to kill King Claudius, because Laertes confesses that “The king, the king’s to blame” for the death of Gertrude (V.ii.316). Without Laertes’ truthful words, King Claudius would have continued to rule Denmark with his corrupt deceptiveness. The play ends with Hamlet’s last speech to Horatio: “Absent thee from felicity a while/And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain/To tell my story“ (V.ii.345-347). Although the play started with Claudius’ corruptive, deceitful deeds, Hamlet ends it with his desires to convey the truth to the kingdom, reflecting that in the end, truth prevails. Hamet portrayed the importance behind the double meaning of each character’s words, reflecting that although ear and hearing is needed to discover the truth, it could also be used as tools for
... to Horatio is not a thank you or I love you. He tells him to stay here to tell my story. People need to know my story. What kind of friend is that? Horatio was a part of Hamlets plot all along. Hamlet never truly cared about him. He just wanted someone to be able to tell his story in the end.
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.
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
Hamlet, of the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is a young man with many distinctive characteristics. He is the loving and beloved son of Hamlet, the deceased King of Denmark. He is talented in many ways, as actor, athlete, and scholar. Prince Hamlet draws upon many of his talents as he goes through a remarkable metamorphosis, changing from an average, responsible, young Prince to an apparently mad, raging son intent upon avenging his father’s untimely death.
Many characters in the play have confidence in Horatio because of his trustworthiness. Horatio is very trustworthy, and not only in the way that he can keep a secret if needed, but he is honorable and keeps his word, and is honest to himself, showing integrity. Here, Horatio shows this trait by revealing to Hamlet that Hamlet’s father’s ghost had appeared.
Horatio's second purpose is to be Hamlet's one true confidant. Apart from Hamlet's soliloquies, his conversations with Horatio are the only insight we have into what the Prince is really thinking and feeling. But why Hamlet chooses Horatio to become the sole person on whom he can rely is of primary concern here. From the first scene we see that Horatio is calm, resolute, and rational. Not afraid to confront the Ghost, Horatio demands that it speak if it knows what future awaits Denmark or if it has come to make a confession:
Horatio’s minor role is vital to the story of Hamlet. He does not add anything to the plot of the play and instead acts as the voice of common sense. Horatio is an outside observer to the madness that ensues after the murder of King Hamlet. All of Hamlet’s soliloquies revolve around irrational speculations about death and decay. However, Hamlet’s conversation with Horatio ground the play in reality. In those conversations, Hamlet reveals his feelings to his closest friend. Horatio is the only one Hamlet can come talk to about what is going on in his life.
Upon examining Shakespeare's characters in this play, Hamlet proves to be a very complex character, and functions as the key element to the development of the play. Throughout the play we see the many different aspects of Hamlet's personality by observing his actions and responses to certain situations. Hamlet takes on the role of a strong character, but through his internal weaknesses we witness his destruction.
Hamlet is a tale of tragedy by Shakespeare which tells the story of the prince of Denmark who is on a quest to avenge the death of his father at the hands of his uncle whom subsequently becomes king of Denmark. This is what fuels the fire in the play as Hamlet feels the responsibility to avenge his father’s death by his uncle Claudius; however, Claudius assumed the throne following the death of hamlets father. It is in this context that we see the evolution of hamlets character from a student and young prince of Denmark to the protagonist and tragic hero in the play.
Due to all the confusion and sadness Hamlet falls under a depression and has deadly thoughts. Prior to the quote Claudius and Gertrude got married, Claudius Hamlet’s new stepfather was making fun oh him for still mourning over his father’s death. Afterward Horatio enters and begins to talk with Hamlet. Hamlet is so distraught that once he hears about the apparition from Horatio he says this: “I will watch tonight. Perchance “twill walk again” (1.2.258-259) Hamlet just needs some closure and is willing to do ANYTHING to see his father again.
When considering Hamlet’s generally isolationist and lonesome nature, it is possible to conclude that Hamlet suffers from a mental disorder. Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet tends not to share his inner feelings with others and does not have many close friends. One notable exception is Horatio, Hamlet’s closest and most loyal friend. Horatio is the only character to whom Hamlet expresses his true feelings, and Hamlet welcomes Horatio’s calm level-headedness, providing an insight into the kind of person Hamlet appreciates: “Give me that man / That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him / In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart, / As I do thee” (3.2, 64–67). If Hamlet’s idea of a friend is any indication as to why he strays away from shar...