ipl-logo

Why Is Horatio Important In Hamlet

1202 Words5 Pages

A poisoned dagger could be hidden in the shadows behind every friend throughout life, each biding their time for the perfect moment to lunge towards the jugular. Severing all ties to such volatile relationships preserves personal happiness and well-being. The dilemma becomes, however, distinguishing between those who remain loyal and selfless and those who clench this bare bodkin behind their back. Hamlet, of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, experiences these two extremes firsthand. It is through Hamlet's peer and dear friend, Horatio, that he is gifted with a true confidant, and through childhood companions, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, that he is cursed with duplicitous adversaries. Stark differences lie in the manner of interaction between …show more content…

Clearly, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had been effective in doing so with Hamlet, being referred to as "childhood friends", at the beginning of the play, but all that history was thrown out of the window the minute the pair agreed to spy on their, at one time, friend (2.2.1-26). If they truly felt compelled to remain loyal to Hamlet, then they would have revealed Claudius' true intention the minute they came upon him. Horatio, on the other hand, consistently uncovered the truth, even it meant trouble in Denmark. The night he witnessed the ghost appear on the guard platform, he knew it could engender a great deal of turmoil within the prince. To Hamlet he said, "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" (1.2.222-224). Horatio recognized that it was his duty to alert his friend that his dead father walks again. Horatio proves himself to be truthful to Hamlet at every …show more content…

Unfortunately for Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are motivated by greed, not love. From the very beginning they were willing to do or say whatever is necessary to endear themselves to King Claudius. Upon their arrival, Rosencrantz attempts to curry favor by saying, "Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty," with Guildenstern adding, "But we both obey And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet To be commanded" (2.2.25-32). Enacting Claudius' every order may bring them the wealth and social status advancement that they so desperately desire, but only at Hamlet's expense. Conversely, Horatio put himself in danger every time Hamlet was in need. After Hamlet's meeting with his father's ghost, he insisted to Horatio, "Never make known what we have seen to-night," to which Horatio replies with, "My lord, we will not" (1.5.147-148). Agreeing to harbor such treasonous secrets would certainly result in the detachment of Horatio's head in the event that Claudius were to find out, but Horatio is ready to accept the consequences if the situation arises. All the way to Hamlet's dying breath, Horatio remains true. Following Hamlet's poisoning, Horatio melancholily remarks, "Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here’s yet some

Show More
Related
1178 Words | 5 Pages

In 1.2 King Claudius gives speech addressing his brother’s death and the war potential in Denmark without sign of guilt and recognize what he have done to obtain this power. Similarly when Claudius witness the strange action of hamlet he send rosencrantz and guildenstern who are Hamlet best friends to spy on Hamlet even though they are doing what the king is asking they look suspicious to Hamlet which cause the break point in their relationship which cause their death. “To draw him on to pleasures and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus that , opened, lies within our

Read More
1436 Words | 6 Pages

and Rosencrantz wonders “How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?” (2.3. 337 -341). On the other hand, the way she treated Guildenstern in the scene with suspicion was because of the ghost of his father appearing to him and revealing his killer. The prince was aware that Guildenstern was a spy for Claudius and when she says she has been send by his mother the queen “ The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.” Hamlet replies “You are welcome” using a puppet to mock her, Guildenstern replies “Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed.

Read More
563 Words | 3 Pages

He is also just uses one person instead of many people making security of the secret strong because more than one person knowing can cause trust issues that could end in exposure. After explaining his whole plan to Horatio, Hamlet asks Horatio if “when thou seest that act afoot, even with the very comment of thy soul observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt do not itself unkennel in one speech (III.ii.1956-1960).” With this statement, Hamlet asking Horatio to watch Claudius’s reaction to the play and write notes about his change in emotion and difference in body language. Through this action, Hamlet is depending on Horatio to keep his secrets while also helping him achieve his goal of revenge on Claudius

Read More
506 Words | 3 Pages

This passage (ll. 46-58) comes from the beginning of act one of Hamlet and is a pivotal moment for Horatio. Up to this point, Horatio has denied the existence of ghost, despite the best efforts of Marcellus and Barnardo to persuade him otherwise. To prove they did not imagine this apparition, Marcellus and Barnardo invite Horatio to join them on their watch and witness the ghost for himself (ll. 23-29). When the ghost first appears to the men, Horatio is in a state of shock until he is prompted by Marcellus to question it (ll. 40-46). Horatio returns to reality and attempts to extract information form the ghost.

Read More
1161 Words | 5 Pages

This however is not the only time Horatio shows affection for Hamlet. At the end of the play when Hamlet is poisoned, Horatio proclaims the love he has for him and says, “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane” (5.2.333). Famous Romans committed suicide instead of accepting defeat, and Horatio makes this comparison, where he is saying he cannot live without Hamlet. Horatio proved to be Hamlets true

Read More
128 Words | 1 Pages

That evening, in the castle hall now doubling as a theater, Hamlet solicitously lectures the players on how to act the components he has developed for them. Polonius shuffles by with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Hamlet dispatches them to hurry the players in their preparations. Horatio enters, and Hamlet, gratified to visually perceive him, accolades him heartily, expressing his affection for and high opinion of Horatio’s mind and manner, especially Horatio’s qualities of self-control and reserve. Having told Horatio what he learned from the ghost that Claudius murdered his father; he now asks him to visually examine Claudius meticulously during the play so that they might compare their impressions of his comportment afterward. Horatio

Read More
437 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout time friendship has been shown in different forms of literature. In Hamlet, Horatio shows true friendship to Hamlet. No matter how hard getting over the death of his father was for Hamlet, or when he acted crazy

Read More
970 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More
1009 Words | 5 Pages

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear incapable of functioning severally, thus they are primarily one character, despite what they may say. They show up in Denmark to function paid informants on their friend from faculty, and that they must fall everywhere one another in their conceive to suck up to King Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus. This play appears to be confronted, because Hamlet is ready to confront the paradoxical truth that to avenge his father's death he must commit the very same act for which he seeks

Read More
362 Words | 2 Pages

Horatio: For you, Hamlet, I shall speak words of truth: Deceitful acts, cryptic conduct, and mad thoughts have plagued those in the Royal lineage of Denmark. And thus, drove them all to the other side of life. The true King murdered by a jealous kinship, was poisoned by ear, to rot in his garden. Fortinbras: King Hamlet, murdered?

Read More
1168 Words | 5 Pages

By expressing their unwavering loyalty to the king by agreeing to spy on Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reinforce the theme of deception as he betrays Hamlet, their long-time friend, in order to carry out Claudius’s dirty work. This betrayal and deception ultimately lead to their tragic demise as the letter, Hamlet’s execution note, which they are ordered to deliver, is discovered by Hamlet himself and used against them. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed and Hamlet feels no guilt whatsoever, as their betrayal really hurt him. Another illustration of deception is highlighted through the various acts of King Claudius, as he is the mastermind behind many of

Read More
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

Read More
672 Words | 3 Pages

This is shown in the quote, “But we both obey, and here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet To be commanded.” (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 29), and proves that they do not value the friendship between themselves and Hamlet. Once more, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s false loyalty is proven when they knowingly agree to send Hamlet to his

Read More
575 Words | 3 Pages

When he learns Claudius is responsible for the death of his father, he intends to reveal this newfound information to not only Gertrude, but the rest of the characters. He is smart enough to know that she will not believe him based solely on his encounter with the ghost, and must create a trap where Claudius will reveal his guilt on his own. When the players arrive at the castle, he alters their script to mimic the king’s murder and “catch the conscience of the king” (II.ii.567). During the performance, Claudius shows signs of guilt and worry, making Hamlet’s plan a success and proving his

Read More
670 Words | 3 Pages

They are two of Hamlet’s childhood friends, but, neither of them can think for themselves. Since they are close with Hamlet, he senses that they were sent to him by his step father and mother to check in on him. It is well known that the two are essentially inseparable and have their names switched by the Queen to show that they are expendable to each other. Both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do exactly as they are told with little to no argument, as long as they are not being put in danger. Due to the fact that they do not have parents to teach them to be their own person and think for themselves, they are used by the King and Queen to get the information that they want.

Read More

More about Why Is Horatio Important In Hamlet

Related Topics

Open Document