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How Does Shakespeare Use Horatio

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Amongst the myriad of characters in the famous Shakespearean novel Hamlet is someone that plays an imperative role in the progression of the novel. This special someone is known as Horatio, the faithful friend of Hamlet. Introduced as an intelligent man, Horatio is loyal, calm, and collected. His oath of friendship to Hamlet is so deep that is willing to commit suicide rather than live without Hamlet. It is through this special relationship with the main protagonist Hamlet that we see Shakespeare utilizing Horatio to his fullest extent. Shakespeare introduces Horatio in the novel in order to serve as Hamlet’s confidant, represent an anchor of truth and reason, and create variation to the dialogue in the novel. We can see that Shakespeare …show more content…

Through their conversations we can see that Hamlet really feels for Horatio and trusts him. Hamlet is able to confide and speak his mind to his closest friend because of this very reason. As readers we are fortunate enough to be able to have a first row seat to these conversations that allow us to know what Hamlet, the main protagonist, is truly feeling. An example of Hamlet confiding Horatio is when he trusts Horatio by telling him that he has a plan to test his uncle’s guilt. Hamlet says, “There is a play tonight before the king. One scene of it comes near the circumstance which I have told thee of my father’s death. I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, Even with the very comment of thy soul... Observe mine uncle. If his occulted guilt do not itself unkennel in one speech,It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen, And my imaginations are as foul” (Act 3 Scene 2). At this very moment he trusts Horatio and is able to give him …show more content…

There are many moments where Horatio is able to give Hamlet good advice or provide him with reason/truth. Horatio actually warns Hamlet to not follow the ghost of his father by saying, “What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness?” (Act 2 Scene 4). This shows that he is one of the only people in the story that is sensible and isn’t slowly falling into madness. He recognizes this madness and gives Hamlet great advice, which is an imperative function in the novel. Horatio also informs him that he has seen the ghost, which further solidifies the notion that he holds valuable information and advice for Hamlet. He says, “As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it” (Act 1 Scene 2). It is through these moments that Horatio deems an integral part of the storytelling in

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Additionally, in scene two act III the scene that may have any effect on the direction of the play is the introduction of the Ghost appearing to Hamlet and telling him that Claudius his uncle and brother to his father killed the king father to Hamlet and asks him to revenge his death. This makes Hamlet to distrust almost everybody around him except Horatio his close friend. From the scene, Rosencrantz asks “Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you 338   do, surely, bar the door upon your own liberty, if   you deny your griefs to your friend.”. Hamlet “340   Sir, I lack advancement.”

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Horatio was not only someone he grew up with but he was the one person in his life that he had his faith in 100 percent. Everyone in both Holdens and Hamlets lives have disappointed them in one way or another, but both had that one person who they looked up to. For Holden it was his younger brother Allie, for Hamlet it was Horatio. Both of these males had characteristics about them that caused Hamlet and Holden to set them above everyone else. The only difference between Allie and Horatio, is that Allie is dead.

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630 Words | 3 Pages

After the ghost apparition, he's forced to go outside of his pragmatic views only to discover himself in seclusion and derangement. Without Horatio, who has never seen the ghost, Hamlet finds himself constantly contemplating how he should proceed. As an intellect, Hamlet naturally responds with rational deductions. He declares out loud to himself “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am! It is not monstrous that this player here, but in a fiction, and a passion, the forces so so to his own conceit.”

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He was able to tell that his schoolmates came back to visit only because they were ordered by the king and queen to watch him. Similar to before with Polonius, he calls them “fools” and “sponges” without trouble; however, there’s a sense of rationality beneath his deceiving words. This shows that he is able to think critically and is able to differentiate between friend and betrayer. In Act 5 Scene 2, Hamlet says to Horatio, “ I sat me down, / Devised a new commission, wrote it fair/ He should those bearers put to death/

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At this scene, it’s also when Hamlet decides to understand the mistakes that he has made and face the consequences, but not be afraid because that’s how his fate ended up to be. Secondly, Hamlet understands the value that life gives because he told Horatio not to kill himself. When Horatio admits that he’s, “more an antique Roman than a Dane” (V.II.360), Hamlet quickly tells Horatio, “if thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,/ Absent thee from felicity awhile/ And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain/ To tell my story” (V.II.367-370).

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Although Hamlet and Horatio have a really close relationship, they do contrast from each other but have some similarities as well. Horatio is a man like no other that is always there, right by Hamlet’s side when he needs him. Horatio is a character foil for Hamlet because he is the type of man that has pride in himself and everything that he does. Hamlet, on the other hand, does not take pride in himself and is the true definition of a coward. Throughout the play, it is evident that Horatio possesses traits that Hamlet seems to be missing and Hamlet says, “no, not for a king/ Upon whose property and most dear life/

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The reason one knows that Hamlet is the only one capable of speaking with the spirit is because Horatio, along with Marcellus, are only able to see it. Whenever they try speaking to the spirit, it simply disappears, and the first time it stayed is when it directed Hamlet to follow it. “It beckons you to go away with it,/As if it some impartment did desire/To you alone” (Shakespeare I.iv.60-63). The only reason that the ghost is speaking is because Hamlet allowed it to separate him from the rest of the group. The second that Hamlet finished speaking with the spirit, his behavior changed, and Horatio was able to notice quickly.

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1071 Words | 5 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet struggles to cope with his late father’s death and his mother’s quick marriage. In Act 1, Scene 2, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Hamlet are all introduced. Hamlet has just finished publicly speaking with his mom and the new king, and after he is interrupted by his good friend Horatio, who reveal the secret about King Hamlet’s ghost. Hamlet’s soliloquy is particularly crucial because it serves as his initial characterization, revealing the causes of his anguish. Hamlet’s grief is apparent to the audience, as he begins lamenting about the uselessness of life.

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Later in the play, Horatio reveals his loyalty to Hamlet, but it is not clear the stance of

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Horatio, Before my own God, I might not this believe, without the sensible and true avouch, of my eyes.” at this moment according to Alsaif Omar believes that at this moment in Hamlet there is a sense of belief of existence of the ghost. They wouldn’t have believed the ghost was true until they witnesses seeing it with their own eyes. Believing in the existence of the ghost goes against religion beliefs. However seeing the ghost confirmed it was real, which led them to think still in the religious idea that it's a ghost from hell

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205 Words | 1 Pages

Horatio exhibits sincere devotion towards Hamlet highlighted by the positively connoted “sweet lord, at your service”. Furthermore, the foreshadowing present in Horatio’s warning “and draw you into madness?” indicates

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1241 Words | 5 Pages

Here Hamlet is seen discussing how he feels about his mother and uncle’s immorality by getting married after his father was only gone for a month. Later in the play, Hamlet still has these same good qualities, but with more bad and unredeemable qualities. He begins to turn cruel toward people in his life who care about him, like his mother and Ophelia. He also arranges the murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern without even the slightest apology. Hamlet tells Horatio in 5.2.45-47: “He should those bearers put to sudden death, Not shriving time allowed.”

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1844 Words | 8 Pages

Hamlet is William Shakespeare 's renowned tale of mystery, intrigue, and murder, centered on a young misguided prince who can only trust himself. Some may say that the actions of Prince Hamlet throughout the play are weak and fearful, displaying a tendency to procrastinate and showing an apathetic nature towards his family and peers. Others spin a tale of a noble young scholar, driven mad by the cold-blooded murder of his father by his uncle. In truth, I believe Hamlet is neither of these things. Hamlet is a sort of amalgamation of the two, a bundle of contradictions thrown together into one conflicting but very human mess of a character.

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586 Words | 3 Pages

Horatio shows his loyalty towards Hamlet. He is a great friend to Hamlet who is always looking out for him. As a loyal friend to Hamlet, he informs Hamlet that he saw his father as a ghost. He also warns Hamlet not to follow the ghost because it may harm him. When Horatio sees Hamlet wounded from the poisoned sword, he says to him, “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.

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1052 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the play the fatherly bond between Horatio and Hamlet continues to grow by means of their kindness and care for each other. Horatio remains the only person Hamlet confides in, so much as to trust him with his hidden plan. By sharing with Horatio everything that happens to him and "the fact that he has apparently shared with Horatio his deepest secret--the ghost 's allegation against Claudius--shows that Hamlet 's trust is more than merely verbal" (Evans). Horatio is the only man who knows what actually happens to Hamlet because of the trust they share. Since his father’s death, Hamlet begins to confide in Horatio because of his need for a father figure.

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