Truthful Horatio in Hamlet
Horatio's role in Hamlet is minor, however he serves two purposes central to the drama. Horatio provides the truth. It is through Horatio that the actions taken by Hamlet and other characters gain credibility. He is the outside observer to the madness. Hamlet could soliloquize to no end, but it is his conversations with Horatio that ground the play in reality. Horatio believes Hamlet and thus we have permission to believe. He sees the Ghost and so we can believe that Hamlet has seen the Ghost. If Horatio were not there, Hamlet's sanity would truly be in doubt.
Horatio's second purpose is to be Hamlet's one true confidant. Apart from Hamlet's soliloquies, his conversations with Horatio are the only insight we have into what the Prince is really thinking and feeling. But why Hamlet chooses Horatio to become the sole person on whom he can rely is of primary concern here. From the first scene we see that Horatio is calm, resolute, and rational. Not afraid to confront the Ghost, Horatio demands that it speak if it knows what future awaits Denmark or if it has come to make a confession:
If thou art privy to thy country's fate...
O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth...
Speak of it, stay and speak! (I.i.133-9)
Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities that Hamlet himself does not possess. He praises Horatio for his virtue and self-control: "Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man/As e'er my conversation cop'd withal" (III.ii.56-7). Horatio's strength of character is unwavering, and Hamlet longs for the peace of mind that such stoicism must bring to Horatio:
Dost thou hear?
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice,
And could of men distinguish her election,
Hath seal'd thee for herself, for thou hast been
As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing,
A man that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those
Whose blood and judgement are so well commedled
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,
As i do thee. (III.ii.65-70)
Thus Horatio has reached an apex that Hamlet recognizes is the freedom from emotional upheaval.
Throughout the story, Horatio is continuously shown as the voice of reason and clarity. He is the authority figure and it is through him that we see the truth behind the actions of Hamlet and the others. Horatio is the outside observer to the play and it is a result of his words and actions that we can ground the play in reality. Ever since the beginning of the play, Horatio is shown to be a voice of cautious reason and measured skepticism along with a voice of truth, for it was not until he saw the ghost that the ghost became a reality. This idea is clearly portrayed atop the battlements when Horatio says “Before my God, I might not this believe/ without the sensible and true avouch/ of mine own eyes.”(I.i.56-58). Here Horatio confirms that he is the “narrator” of the play and the most sensible observer. However no matter what, Horatio is still Hamlet’s friend and despite his calm mindedness, at the end...
Saunders, C. S., & Pearlson, K. E. (2009). Managing and Using Information Systems. John Wiley&Sons, Incorporated.
...hen he wants to clearly communicate the truth or show an issue from a certain perspective, he uses Horatio’s credibility. Horatio illuminates the consequences Hamlet may face and as an outside observer, allows the reader a glimpse inside Hamlet’s mind. Hamlet’s admiration of Horatio shows what Hamlet considers important in a man. Horatio, in contrast, shows Hamlet’s deep character flaws and allows the reader a deeper insight to who Hamlet actually is, not who he claims to be through his soliloquies. In the end, Horatio himself becomes a playwright, using bodies the tell the tragic tale of Prince Hamlet.
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 heart’s core. How clearly he would be like Horatio! And yet, in the face of what has happened, ought he to be like Horatio? or ought he not to take up arms against his troubles, and violently end them and perhaps thereby himself? (45)
After talking with the ghost, Hamlet, comes back to Horatio and Marcellus and tries to explain to them never to let anyone know what has happened. Both are very scared but agree to the prince’s, but both are still looking to find out what happened between the ghost and him. Further on in the evening Hamlet takes Horatio to the side and explains to him that no matter how odd he acted that Horatio say nothing. (And therefore as a stranger-you most need help you Act1 sc5 line 187-202) He basically explained to Horatio that he was going to be acting much differently than normal, and he told him not to ask questions. This here proves he knew what he was going to have to do. It shows that he was willing to get his revenge by any way possible.
...ance rather than the more legitimate end of civil justice for his father, thus causing the series of events ending in the royal family’s death. Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities that he t himself does not possess, virtue and self-control, and even gives him praise: "Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man/As e'er my conversation cop'd withal" (III.ii.56-7). Horatio's strength of character is abiding and Hamlet yearns for the tranquility that must bring Horatio such stoicism. Hamlet’s ambiguity could not have been illuminated without the console Horatio so graciously offered him. It is often difficult to predict whether Hamlet will do as he says, or simply procrastinate further. In the performance, Horatio gave the audience insight into Hamlet and the development of his character, the essence of companionship, and most importantly, the quality of virtue.
Despite Hamlets High power, he finds his guidance through Horatio. Horatio as a minor character, he is not given much background as to whether he comes from wealth, there are no exact answers that say he is wealthy other than him going to school with Hamlet. Although Horatio had the foundation to be greater than Hamlet, he never tried to out beat Hamlet and stayed humble in their relationship. He genuinely worried for him and his power. He worried that a ghost could “deprive your sovereignty”(358; Act V). He warned Hamlet of what the ghost could do and how he could draw him “into madness”(72; Act II). Horatio was never given credit but he always stayed true to Hamlet and never wanted any credential or fame. Hamlet actually instead had asked his “sweet lord” if he could help him. Horatio tells hamlet “thou art e’en just a man as e’er my conversation coped withal”(46; Act III). Horatio presents himself as Hamlet’s servant but Hamlet refuses this. Last time Hamlet pointedly exchanged the name “friend” with Horatio; this time, he calls him as good a man as he has ever known. This is important because throughout the play in Hamlet, wealth and power is misused. Claudius, the brother of the king, kills the king, in order to become king himself and then he marries the queen. Hamlet halts avenging his father because of the confession of the murderer. In fact, he abused his power of love over Ophelia and made her go insane. Horatio offers his support even at a climax, he tells Hamlet that he can “forestall their repair hither” (212; Act V) , when Claudius is betraying Hamlet, Horatio is there to offer an excuse to get him out of the corruption. The abuse of power was a characteristic Horatio did not use on Hamlet even though he was the key to all of the secrets. The power and deaths from struggles in Hamlet revealed Horatio as a faithful
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.
This not only showed Horatio’s friendship to Hamlet, but also how he knows that by spilling the word of the ghost it would have caused chaos in the kingdom. Throughout the play, we see Horatio question Hamlets judgement a handful of times. One being when he wanted to approach the ghost and the other being when Hamlet wanted to fight with Laertes. Horatio, being the friend he was, spoke the truth about what he thought about hamlets actions. Being concerned not only for his friend’s safety, but also his mental stability. We see a great connection between Hamlet and Horatio. After both attending the same school, they have been bonded at the hip. Horatio is not only a faithful friend, but also a friend that will be with Hamlet through thick and thin. He was there for Hamlet from his first interaction with the ghost, to his final words, never giving up on Hamlet and trying to protect him the best he could. Their friendship was unbreakable and Horatio would even take a bullet for Hamlet. After Hamlet was killed, Horatio had the courage
The mutual friendship connection between Hamlet and Horatio spares beyond similarities. It is a respectful connection, where protection between one another became loyal. Such loyalty transcended as the course of their lives evolved. “Never make known what you have seen tonight” (Act 1. Sc. 5, line 160). It is this line which links Horatio and Hamlet together, as Horatio sword secrecy about the ghost, “In faith, my lord, not I” (Act 1. Sc. 5, line 163). “The serpent that did sting the father’s life now wears his crown” (Act 1. Sc.5, line 45-46). The ghost revealed to Hamlet who committed the murder and how it succeeded. This revelation consisted in the pact which led to the conspiracy to prove King Claudius’s guilt. Hamlet then disclosed to Horatio what he intended to do in order to decipher the truth. “Give him heedful note, for I mine eyes will rivet to his face, and after, we will both our judgements join in censure of his seeming” (Act 3. Sc. 2, line 89-92). Horatio was requested to closely observe if King Claudius’s
Throughout literature, there a character who provides a moral compass for other characters. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Horatio’s character seems fairly simple: somewhat of a “yes-man” to Hamlet, often agreeing with anything Hamlet says. However, at the end of the play we understand his significance, as he is one of the last survivors. This transition is unexpected because for most of the play, Horatio is a reserved character and doesn’t speak very often. Despite this, it is clear that Horatio and Hamlet’s friendship is extremely deep, and Hamlet trusts Horatio more than anybody. At first, the relationship is one of a prince and an advisor, but as the play goes on we realize they are in fact close friends. Horatio is much more than a “yes-man” to Hamlet, even though this may not be visible for most of the play. This friendship is due to three of Horatio’s characteristics: trustworthiness, loyalty, and admiration, which make him an ideal friend to Hamlet. These traits also inspire confidence in Horatio from other characters in the play. Even Shakespeare shows that he values Horatio by allowing him to survive at the end of the play.
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.
Haag, S. & Cummings, M. (2008). Management information systems for the information age (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
and is considered by many as one the most important steps of the process. The entering and contracting step will be utilized to set the pace and lay the foundation for the practitioner client relationship. They involve a preliminary evaluation of the organization’s opportunities for development, while
Laudon C. & J. Laudon (2003: 5th edition) Essentials of Management Information Systems. London: Prentice Hall International Limited