Horatio in Shakespeare's Hamlet Essay

The following are journal entries for our reading of Hamlet. Each entry should be completed after we have finished reading and/or viewing that scene in class. The purpose is to prepare you for class discussion; therefore, you should have something written for each entry before we discuss it in class (even if it’s only a question). See Ms. M with questions ahead of time – don’t expect to be given answers in class! Be sure to cite textual evidence to support all your answers – remember to record act, scene and line numbers.

Horatio is a Character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet who is a close friend and confidant of Young Hamlet from when they went to school together at Wittenberg. Hamlet’s friend Horatio enters the stage for the first time during the first scene of Act 1 when Marcellus and Bernardo ask him to stand watch with them. When they see the ghost of what appears to be the deceased king, Horatio feels that this appearance is a bad omen for the nation. He then, being the close confidant that he is, decides to go tell young Hamlet about the ghost in the hopes that it might speak to him.

One of the best known pieces of literature throughout the world, Hamlet is also granted a position of excellence as a work of art. One of the elements which makes this play one of such prestige is the manner in which the story unfolds. Throughout time, Shakespeare has been renowned for writing excellent superlative opening scenes for his plays. By reviewing Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet, the reader is able to establish a clear understanding of events to come. This scene effectively sets a strong mood for the events to come, gives important background information, and introduces the main characters. With the use of this information, it is simple to see how Shakespeare manages to create stories with such everlasting appeal.

Hamlet. Horatio’s other part in the play is the reader’s indication that since he and Hamlet both

Hansen argues that Shakespeare used Hamlet and Horatio’s relationship as commentary on the education of the elite at university along with social and cultural shifts. She begins by comparing Hamlet and Horatio’s relationship to those in other plays, concluding that they demonstrate themes from the friendship doctrine amicitia. The author then explains that it became common for friendships to be born across social classes due to the intermixing

When the ghost talks privately to Hamlet, he learns not only about the murder of his father, but also about the unfaithfulness and adultery of his mother, “the human truth” (Abrams 467). Lilly B.

Horatio and Hamlet have very similar characters, but there is still some contrast between them. Horatio is a very sensible and reasonable character. When the ghost first appeared to Horatio, he quickly runs to tell Hamlet about it, disregarding the dangers. Horatio was always there to guide Hamlet. Horatio is a loyal, hardworking friend and is a reliable source of information. He cares so much for Hamlet that he even wanted to drink out of the poisoned cup.

A story would go nowhere without the characters making something happen. Characters are used for everything in a story, they set the scene, make the plot happen, and everything inbetween. Characterization is a major deal for writers because without proper characterization, the plot will not be able to go the way they want it to. This is also a big factor for the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. He uses so many different characters to really push certain things to the audience, and to make the reader understand it so well.

Hamlet and Horatio’s friendship falls toward the loyal end of the spectrum as Claudius and Gertrude’s friendship falls toward the disloyal end of the spectrum. Throughout Hamlet, Horatio was always around for Hamlet when he was needed most, whether Hamlet knew it or not. Hamlet would have never even known about the ghost of his father if it had not been for Horatio. Bernardo, Marcellus, and Francisco

Hamlet's emotions are so varying that at times one questions whether or not Hamlet really feels love for either Gertrude or Ophelia. Unlike these relationships-which experience constant changes and re-evaluations by Hamlet-the love for Horatio seems to be continual, and never seems to come into question.

   Horatio holds the seat of honor in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, for being the only character among the dramatis personae who is extremely close to the protagonist. Horatio’s emotional bond with the hero is paradoxically closer than that of Hamlet’s mother to the hero. This essay will examine the character of Horatio, Hamlet’s truest friend.

All of these main characters cared very little for Hamlet except for Horatio. Horatio was the kind of friend to Hamlet that all people wish their friends could be. He was loyal, honest, and loving. Horatio was honest with Hamlet when he told him about seeing his father’s ghost. “My lord, I think I saw him yesternight”(I.2.189). Hamlet did not question Horatio because he trusted him with all of his heart. Seeing a ghost every day is not a common thing, but Hamlet never doubted him. Throughout the play Horatio is looking out for Hamlet. When he was about to fight Laertes Horatio told Hamlet, “if your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will

The friendship between Hamlet and Horatio is truehearted, in contrast to the relationship Hamlet shares with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. First of all, Hamlet actually does not treat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as real friends, but he does trust Horatio very much. When Hamlet falls into a great depression after his father's death and his mother's wedding, Horatio comes back from University of Wintonberg to comfort Hamlet and tells him the appearance of the ghost. Therefore, Horatio is a loyal and reliable friend who genuinely cares Hamlet in his heart and stalwartly warns Hamlet to be careful. Mutually, Hamlet is willing to tell Horatio his mood without any concerns: "Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven or ever I had seen that day, Horatio

The story opens in the cold and dark of a winter night in Denmark, while the guard is being changed on the battlements of the royal castle of Elsinore. For two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead king of Denmark, Hamlet’s father. A young man named Horatio, who is a school friend of Hamlet, has been told of the apparition and cannot believe it, and one of the officers has brought him there in the night so that he can see it for himself.

This story begins on a cold night in Denmark Elsinore Castle when Hamlet’s trusted friend Horatio, and some guards see a ghost, the ghost of King Hamlet to be exact. The philosophical and complicated yet socially popular young Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, is busy fuming at his uncle Claudius who married his mom two days after his father's death. Hamlet suspects that they conspired to kill his father, and he even contemplates suicide. His hopes are lifted when he hears about the ghost.