Why Is Horatio Important In Hamlet

As Horatio’s lawyer, I believe that control of Denmark should be given to Horatio rather than Fortinbras for the following reasons. He is intelligent, loyal, courageous, and is praised by Hamlet himself. Horatio was a true friend to Hamlet and, easily got along with the people in Denmark. He plans his actions and says what’s on his mind. He always thinks about others before himself and, is a person that will be proud of the position he has, and not worried about the political side of things.

After witnessing the ghost of King Hamlet, Marcellus and Bernardo turn to Horatio to get his opinion of the crisis they just witnessed. This not only shows that they respect his judgement, but also think of him with great admiration. Right off the bat, Horatio knew that something was off centred in the

kingdom. He was skeptical of the ghost at first, which followed with a sense of uneasiness rushing through his whole body. He was never scared of the ghost as he proceeded to ask the spirit many questions regarding the reason for his presence. This shows not only Horatio’s intelligence, but also his courageousness. This was evident not only when Horatio approached the ghost, but also when he proceeded to tell Hamlet what he just witnessed. This key characteristic is greatly important in being king, as Horatio would have to be faced with numerous events and interactions. Some leaving him with a sense of easiness, while others inflicting fear and tension. Horatio never loses his calm, and proceeds to think about his actions before he proceeds. We also witness Horatio show his true test of loyalty when Hamlet sworn him to secrecy about witnessing the ghost, along with knowing the reason for his father’s death.

This not only showed Horatio’s friendship to Hamlet, but also how he knows that by spilling the word of the ghost it would have caused chaos in the kingdom. Throughout the play, we see Horatio question Hamlets judgement a handful of times. One being when he wanted to approach the ghost and the other being when Hamlet wanted to fight with Laertes. Horatio, being the friend he was, spoke the truth about what he thought about hamlets actions. Being concerned not only for his friend’s safety, but also his mental stability. We see a great connection between Hamlet and Horatio. After both attending the same school, they have been bonded at the hip. Horatio is not only a faithful friend, but also a friend that will be with Hamlet through thick and thin. He was there for Hamlet from his first interaction with the ghost, to his final words, never giving up on Hamlet and trying to protect him the best he could. Their friendship was unbreakable and Horatio would even take a bullet for Hamlet. After Hamlet was killed, Horatio had the courage

to even ask Hamlet if he should commit suicide with his sword so he could be with him. This act of friendship proves to the citizens of Denmark that Horatio will always take his life, if may be, before putting anyone else’s life at risk. Only Horatio owns the key to Hamlets secrets, and for someone to hold such a prized possession, is someone that shows great potential. Not only did Hamlet trust Horatio enough to allow him to tell others about his story, but he also was highly praised by Hamlet.
After the bloody fight in Denmark, we are aware that Fortinbras is the one that claims rule over Denmark, a mistake to say the least. Horatio was the one that was there from the beginning and should have been the one given the crown. He stuck by Hamlet’s side, while Fortinbras did not. Since Hamlet was in a state of insanity, there was no way he was capable of making important decisions at that time, especially during his last few moments. His decision was rushed and not planned out, making the mistake of crowning Fortinbras instead of Horatio. Fortinbras does not think before he acts, and some may call him Hamlets enemy. So why then would Hamlet allow him to the thrown? That’s because of his madness. The characteristics that Fortinbras holds, is unrealistic, especially for someone that is king. He reacts without thinking about the consequences, is only concerned about capturing more land rather than protecting his people, and will find anyway to have blood on his sword. When Hamlet witnesses Fortinbras on his way to Poland, he realizes that Fortinbras does not possess very good judgement and that he acts without thinking. So why would Hamlet choose Fortinbras as the next king of Denmark after knowing these facts? Well that is because of the insanity that endured Hamlet at the time. With this fact, it is clear that hamlet definitely spoke the wrong name for who was supposed to crowned king. The uncanny incident of Hamlet dying and Fortinbras walking in only shows us that Hamlet was shocked by his appearance. With this being said, as Hamlet was going to crown Horatio as King, Fortinbras slipped out of his mouth. There are mountains of evidence proving this fact. From what both Hamlet and Horatio both stated about Fortinbras, backs up this conclusion. Fortinbras is completely opposite of Hamlet and shows none of the important characteristic of being king. Horatio even mentions Fortinbras’s character as someone who is “metal hot and full”. He only engages with other countries, just for the sake of fighting.
Now I ask you, is this the characteristic you want, from someone to be your king? Someone who would rather fight than resolve a matter peacefully? And someone who cares more about himself and politics, rather than his fellow citizens? If you were someone that truly cared about their country and well-being, I reassure you that Horatio is the best candidate for being king for multiple reasons. He is loyal, courageous, praised among many, thinks before he acts and would rather solve issues peacefully. On the other hand, Fortinbras is vicious, sinister, only looks out for himself and would rather deal with issues by fighting.