Character Analysis Of Horatio In Shakespeare's Hamlet

       In Act I, Scene II, one is first made aware of the strength of Hamlet's relationship with Horatio when the latter informs Hamlet that he has seen what he believes is the ghost of the former King Hamlet. This introduction to the relationship between Horatio and Hamlet demonstrates the strong bonds of trust and confidence they share. Unlike the other characters who have seen the apparition and would choose to shrink away from it, Horatio, recognizing the ghost for who it might be, tries to make contact with it, albeit unsuccessfully. After this initial contact, and recognizing the significance of what he has witnessed, it is Horatio that takes Hamlet into his confidence to relate what he has seen. "As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true, / And we did think it writ down in our duty / To let you know of it" (1.2. 220-222). Horatio gives Hamlet a very detailed account of the sighting, answering Hamlet's questions with the honesty and insight of a concerned friend. It is obvious by Horatio's candor that he is neither fearful of Hamlet's response, nor is he concerned that Hamlet will not believe his accounting of the event.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragic play. Most of the characters in the play have selfish motives at heart. Lust, greed, pride, and revenge are just a few sins that are committed in the play. There are few instances within the play that show goodness and kindness. Hamlet has so many people around him trying to bring him down, but he had one friend that was loyal to him, and that was Horatio. The other key characters in the play were only out for their own good. However Horatio was looking out for Hamlet. Unfortunately, Horatio was the only one.

Equality for all has been a subject matter for decades and throughout history, there have been many notable characters that have attempted to tackle this issue. Troy Maxson, a garbage collector, believes that there is no equality, especially for people of color. Cory, Troy’s son and a football prodigy, believes that times have changed and there could be fairness for all, but what does the story say? Does the story prove that there really are equal opportunities for all? The play, Fences by August Wilson, proves that there are equal opportunities for everyone by showing Troy becoming a truck driver despite it being a majority white position and Cory being recruited, regardless of his skin color.

Hamlet's friend Horatio is a foil for him because he brings out the revenge and betrayal in Hamlet. He is a listener for Hamlet. Horatio seems to be the only one who is sympathetic of Hamlet concerning the death of his father and his mother's quick remarriage. He is very loyal to Hamlet. Horatio, through

There are several reasons why Hamlet trusts Horatio to be capable enough to tell his true story. Horatio’s personality traits, his friendship to Hamlet, and his trustworthiness or some of the many reasons Hamlet asks Horatio to tell his story. Hamlet and Horatio are really close friends, and Horatio goes to the extent that he may commit suicide so that he will not have to live without his beloved friend. Horatio is the most intelligent and loyal man to Hamlet in the play despite any of Hamlet’s rash decisions he may make. Hamlet trusts Horatio more than his own life since he discloses any situation that he encounters to Horatio rather than his own parents, “Hath sealed thee for herself, for thou hast been - / As one in suffering all that suffers

The relationship that Hamlet has with Horatio is one of trust where Hamlet acts normal. Hamlet says, "I must be idle." (III. ii. 85.) This quote shows Hamlet telling Horatio that he is going to pretend to be insane. He tells Horatio about watching Claudius for signs of guilt and says, "Give him heedful note, for I mine eyes will rivet his face, and, after, we will both our judgments join in censure of his seeming (3.2.87)." A crazy person will

In the early 1600’s, William Shakespeare created the masterpiece play Hamlet. Since that day, numerous theaters have performed the play and many publishers have made they’re version of the original playwright (the original copy is at an unknown location.) For these years, there has been numerous debatable aspects of Hamlet - one of which being whether or not the ghost encounter with the deceased King Hamlet was real. Of course, Horatio is the credible witness to tell us of the ghost’s existence - but the ghost never actually talks to him like he does Hamlet. In fact, no one besides Hamlet has actually heard the ghost of King Hamlet speak. Furthermore, Hamlet is already grief-stricken over his father’s death and completely expects this ghost

Hamlet could theoretically soliloquize the whole play, but it is his conversations with Horatio that truly reveal what the Prince is really thinking and feeling. For example, insight on Hamlet’s troubled nature is first revealed when Horatio says “My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral” (1.2.176) and Hamlet sarcastically responds with “I prithee, do not mock me, fellow-student; / I think it was to see my mother’s wedding” (1.2.177-78). Such influence on Hamlet proves that Horatio is valuable in the interpretation of the recognition and denouncement of Hamlet’s inner self. Secondly, Horatio has proven to be the anchor of reason to the plot; his role as Fifth Business is heavily credited to his intelligence and rational thinking. From the first scene, Horatio is calm and reasonable, as he is not afraid to confront and reason with the ghost. He demands it to speak if it knows what the future of Denmark is:

Shakespeare uses Horatio to unfold the story of Hamlet, beginning with the opening scene all the way until Hamlet’s death. In Act 1, Horatio foreshadows what is in store for Denmark and Hamlet. After encountering the Ghost once before, Horatio becomes skeptical about its presence. Although Horatio has now seen the Ghost, unlike before when the knights spoke to him about it, he fears that it has appeared to share some dark news. "A mote to trouble the mind’s eye/In the most high and palmy state of Rome/A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,.../And prologue to the omen coming on,"

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.

But we must remark how Hamlet speaks of Horatio; he does so in words of passionate admiration. His election had sealed Horatio for himself because in suffering all, Horatio suffered nothing; and it is the man who is not passion’s slave whom he would wear in his

Before examining Horatio and Hamlets friendship, it is important to look at Horatio as a character, if only to see why he offers such good companionship to Hamlet. From the very beginning of the play, Horatio is portrayed as being part of the old regime, meaning he was loyal to the old King Hamlet and does not necessarily works of the new king and the way he acquired the throne. It is understood that Hamlet and Horatio were not old friends but they at least have known of each other and were amicable because of their close relationship to the old King. (Evans 7) Horatio is characterized as being someone that would never break a loyalty no matter what was offered to him and that is why he can never be a close friend to King Claudius and possibly why he offers Hamlet his friendship regardless of how he is acting throughout the play. (Lucking 4) Hamlet and Horatio may share similar interests in that they both disapprove of what is going on and feel like it is a disgrace to the dead king Hamlet and all that he has worked for and stood for. (Doubt 7) Sharing all of these common feelings towards everything is what defines a friendship in the first place. Another possible reason why Hamlet feels inclined to trust Horatio is that he is the only one that still showed support to Hamlet and felt for him

     Horatio’s most important role as a foil does not become evident until the end of the play. His conversation with Hamlet just before the fatal duel with Laertes provides us with an insight into Hamlet’s state of mind. Horatio advises Hamlet to back down if he does not like the circumstances, and Horatio will attest to Hamlet’s

Hamlet trusts Horatio completely. It is to Horatio that Hamlet writes upon his return to Denmark, and Horatio to whom he confides his thoughts before the duel: “the readiness is / all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what / is't to leave betimes” (V. ii. 223-225)? Hamlet has not placed this much confidence in anyone else; it is only to Horatio that he reveals his true feelings.

Throughout the play, Hamlet is ambitious to avenge his father’s death. In the end of act one, Hamlet realizes the truth and the cause of his father’s death. For instance, the ghost of Hamlet’s father told Hamlet to “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” His father demands revenge and Hamlet swears to avenge his father’s death showing that he is willing to do anything to achieve it. In Act three, Hamlet finally puts his desire for revenge into action. He does this by re-enacting a scene of the death of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet uses the players to prove King Claudius’s guilt and becomes successful because King Claudius exits immediately after what he has seen. During the duel with Hamlet and Laertes, Gertrude is dead after she drinks the poison Claudius gave to Hamlet. Hamlet is gone mad about it and forces King Claudius to drink the poison as well. This shows that Hamlet is ambitious to kill Claudius and gets the King`s crown after doing so. Though he mainly focuses on getting the job done by avenging his father`s death, but he has other things that he is ambitious to do.