That's my question. We spend all this time worrying about the nut jobs in Hamlet and what their particular brand of insanity might mean, but no one seems to care about the one character who's got it all down. Horatio knows who he is. He's Hamlet's best friend, and the only good, stable person in this play. While everyone else runs around like chicken's with their heads cut off, Horatio is the voice of reason and sanity. And yet, he never once tries to stop Hamlet from what he has to do. He is Hamlet's "Damon dear". (Damon and his freind Pythias were the classical model of perfect friendship. Perhaps Horatio serves as a foil, of who Hamlet would have been if his father were still alive. Horatio's character is strong and unwavering, and Hamlet longs for the peace of mind that being so must bring:
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)
Horatio bears stress and burden much better than Hamlet, and he is not a slave to his passions. So why does he stick around while Hamlet goes cucko for coco puffs? Because he's just that good of a friend. Maybe one day when I have a royal friend go insane and seek revenge I can be as supporting and loyal as Horatio. Just maybe do a bit better at steering him away from murder and revenge...
And, in honor of our To Be or Not To Be film montage in class yesterday, here's one of my favorite scenes in Hamlet. Notice how Horatio acts through this scene. Supportive, and yet a voice of reason.
And the best line: "This is I, HAMLET THE DANE!"
Goodbye Hamlet. I hope your dreams turned out to be good ones after all.
About Me
- Martina S.
- I'm a Junior at Brigham Young University studying Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation. I work in the BYU Herbarium during the school year and with the U.S. Forest Service during summers. Plants are fun. Animals are fun. Outside is fun. School will seem more fun once I graduate. Enjoy!
amdhow | September 30, 2011 at 11:08 AM
You bring up a good point. Horatio is a good friend. I know when I'm having a freak out my best friend usually knows how to calm me down. I've never literally tried to kill anyone of course, but she once had to try and convince a very hysterical and irrational me that Colorado existed. But that's a rather long story. The point I'm trying to make is that I think Horatio did his best, but when someone goes as far off the deep end as Hamlet does, there's only so much a person can do. I'm glad Horatio wasn't killed. He didn't deserve to die.
Cassandra | October 3, 2011 at 4:56 PM
I especially like how Horatio stood by Hamlet's side even in death. However, wouldn't you think that a good friend would try to get a little more help with steering a suicidal, murderous friend? If this was a modern-day play, Horatio should have taken Hamlet to a counselor. Or maybe to the emergency room.
Martina S. | October 4, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Amanda that's hilarious! Colorado exists, I've been there:) Cassandra he didn't just stand by his side, he was ready to follow Hamlet to his death. So maybe Horatio isn't the most stable person.. But still. Pretty dang loyal. Hamlet definitely could have used a counselor.