Hamlet Horatio Essay

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One the most important characters in Williams Shakespears Hamlet, is Horatio. Horatio is one of Hamlets childhood friends, along with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern turn on him, Horatio plays a crucial role in Hamlet. Horatio is the voice of reason for Hamlet. We first meet Horatio in Act 1, Scene 1, when he is called upon by the castle guards to address the ghost that they have encountered. Horatio is not afraid to confront the ghost, Horatio demands that it speak if it knows the future that awaits Denmark. After Hamlet talks to the ghost, he vows that he will get revenge and says he may act crazy. He then forces Horatio to swear upon his sword that they will keep what he said a secret. Horatio agrees to Hamlet’s wish by keeping the secret safe. This demonstrates his loyalty towards Hamlet as he continues to do so even when Hamlet’s madness is starting to appear real. The loyalty between Horatio and Hamlet is opposite of that between Rosencrantz…show more content…
He is the only person that Hamlet trusts. Hamlet’s choice of Horatio as a friend, and the reasons for it are important part of Hamlet’s character. Even though Horatio is of significantly lower class than Hamlet, at no point does Horatio show that he needs Hamlet. Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities that he does not have like loyalty and intelligence. Horatio makes it clear when Hamlet is making an ill-advised choice. There are two very significant examples of this, both occurring at moments when Hamlet’s choice will have an effect on Hamlet. The first example comes in when Hamlet meets the ghost for the first time and the ghost wants Hamlet to follow it. Horatio immediately asserts himself aggressively, telling to Hamlet “You shall not go” and repeating it three times for emphasis. The second example happens in the final scene of the play, when Horatio tells Hamlet’s choice to face Laertes is ill-advised and tells Hamlet “he will

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