Horatio (Hamlet): Character Analysis

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Table of Contents

Background
Qualities and Characteristics
Annotated Bibliography
Works Cited

Background

Horatio plays a minor role in the play and only serves the purpose of being Hamlet’s character foil. He serves two main purposes: the harbinger of truth and Hamlet’s confidant. The actions of other characters gain credibility through Horatio (Musa Rzayeva, 61). For instance, Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost would be doubted were it not for Hamlet concurring it existed. Otherwise we would doubt the Prince’s sanity. We learn of the prince’s thoughts and feelings only through his conversations with Horatio, meaning he is Hamlet’s most trustworthy friend and only confidant.

Qualities and Characteristics

Intelligent, discerning, calm and resolute

Horatio does not fear the ghost, only what it comes with. He discerns that the ghost’s presence could only mean a great evil was facing Denmark. He resolutely demands that the ghost tell him what it is seeking and why it is there (Shakespeare). He is also always aware of the situation—he warns Hamlet not to duel in front of the king as he suspects folly, which turns out to be true.

Straightforward

Horatio speaks his mind to Hamlet fearlessly and without holding back. He discourages him from following the ghost, presents genuine arguments against such action and is truly worried about Hamlet’s safety and sanity. He makes his concerns known when Hamlet tells him of the letter conspiring his death and cautions him against fighting Laertes, son of Polonius (Shakespeare). He is always telling Hamlet the truth even though he never listens. Hamlet always uses his knowledge and insight to ensure his friend’s safety, like when he warns him that he will lose the fight.

True and passionate friend

Hamlet does not follow his friend’s caution and goes with the ghost, where he learns of his father’s murder and swears to avenge him. Despite disapproving the decision, Horatio allows himself to be sworn to silence to keep Hamlet’s secret. Horatio keeps many more secrets throughout the book. Later he offers to kill himself so he can die with a friend whose loss he deemed too big to handle. However, he listens to his friend, who asks him to refrain from suicide and tell his story (Wilson, 202). Horatio is always at Hamlet’s side and does not betray him like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Rational

Horatio is intelligent but not slave to his intellectual ability; He takes things as they come and accepts the world as it is, unlike Hamlet, who succumbs to his impulses and emotions (Wilson, 201). Bernardo and Marcellus admire Horatio’s faculties enough to seek his opinion on the ghost but nobody accuses him of thinking or talking too much. In addition, he refrains from engaging in any of Hamlet’s elaborate wordplays and understands the value of ignorance in some situations.

Annotated Bibliography

Musa Rzayeva, Leyla. “A Look at the Heroes of William Shakespeare’s “HAMLET” Tragedy.” Scientific Work, vol. 15, no. 3, 2021, pp. 59–62.

The author holds that Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s works on the eternal themes of love, loyalty, life and death, and betrayal. The play explores the issue of humanism in a hostile world. Prince Hamlet is frustrated at the evil in society and bemoans his weakness against such a force. Hamlet’s actions are sparked by a single crime but his entire endeavour can be seen as a fight against a hostile society. Horatio is arguably the most important character as he provides grounding for a play wrought with unstable characters and the supernatural.

Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet: Entire Play.” Mit.edu, 2018, shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html. Accessed 29 Apr. 2022. This play follows Hamlet as he tries to find justice in a society that does not allow for it. Hamlet follows the deceased King of Denmark’s ghost and seeks to kill the new king. Hamlet plays mad, conjures a plot, and goes for revenge. His uncle, in fear for his life, plots to kill him. The events in the play culminate in a duel where the King, Queen, Hamlet’s opponent, and Hamlet are killed.

Wilson, Jeffrey R. “Horatio as Author: Storytelling and Stoic Tragedy in Hamlet.” Hamlet and Emotions. Palgrave Macmillan, 2019. 201-211 Horatio is generally emotionless and rationalizes the pain and suffering he witnesses as a tragedy. The author states that this disposition makes him the perfect character via which Shakespeare can tell the story of Hamlet. The stoic Horatio gives a stable ground from which the events of the play can be understood. Further, and more importantly, through him, we can understand the prince’s thoughts and emotions.

Works Cited

Musa Rzayeva, Leyla. “A Look at the Heroes of William Shakespeare’s “HAMLET” Tragedy.” Scientific Work, vol. 15, no. 3, 2021, pp. 59–62.

Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet: Entire Play.” Mit.edu, 2018, Web.

Wilson, Jeffrey R. “Horatio as Author: Storytelling and Stoic Tragedy in Hamlet.” Hamlet and Emotions. Palgrave Macmillan,, 2019. 201-211.

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