Who is Horatio in Hamlet?

Answer 1

Horatio is Hamlet's closest friend.

I disagree with the above statement, though it is commonly said. Horatio is *NOT* Hamlet's closest friend at the start of the play. He is a casual friend, that becomes increasingly closer to Hamlet as the play progresses.

First, Hamlet is not aware Horatio is in 'town' until they meet after the ghostly visit. And it should be noted that Marcellus is the one that knows where to find Hamlet, not Horatio. They are casual friends at school.

Horatio is the voice of reason for Hamlet, who remains unsure about his way and the righteousness of the ghostly request. But their friendship only solidifies in the second part of the play when Hamlet realizes the un-trustworthiness of his close friends, who are corrupted by power. It is after Hamlet has been freed by his time with the pirates that the friendship becomes utterly solid.

Hamlet uses Horatio during the play within the play scene to confirm the guilt of Claudius, but that is because he must use someone and only Horatio, a near aristocrat, is able to be used. Marcellus attending the play would be rather odd.

Answer 2

Hamlet calls Horatio "one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing." He does appear to have a very even keel emotionally. His low-key responses highlight Hamlet's wit: He replies to Hamlet's "I thought it was to see my mother's wedding" with the mild "Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon." Hamlet's "Do you think Alexander looked thus i' th' earth?" elicits a mere "E'en so, my Lord."

Horatio is always the voice of reason and skepticism. When he sees the ghost, he says, "I might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of mine own eyes." Hamlet chides him with his famous "there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy" with being too much the voice of reason. He warns Hamlet not to follow the ghost, and later, not to accept the challenge of fighting Laertes. His policy both for himself and in his advice to Hamlet is to avoid potential conflict and danger, which demonstrates that Hamlet is not afraid of either, and indeed rushes to meet both.

Horatio is also Hamlet's conscience. When Hamlet explains how he has arranged for the deaths of his two spying school pals, Horatio mildly admonishes him with "So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to it," which prompts Hamlet to defend himself with "Why man they did make love to this employment." But we tend to feel with Horatio that it was a bit excessive.

In the end, the laconic and emotionally repressed Horatio is commissioned by Hamlet to "tell my story", a task for which we would have thought him unfit, except that the death of his friend brings poetry to his lips: "and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." Sure enough, Horatio the stoic, Horatio the dutiful and faithful friend, takes up the duty Hamlet has placed on him and begins to "tell his story" to Fortinbras.

Answer 3

His line "I am more an antique Roman than a Dane" might allude to a number of Roman generals who would rather commit suicide than be captured, including Brutus, Cassius and Mark Antony. A lot of Romans who were not generals also committed suicide under similar circumstances, like Seneca. Hamlet and Polonius talk about Caesar, but Horatio doesn't.

Answer 4

Horatio is Hamlet's friend and confidante.

Answer 5

He is Hamlet's close friend and confidant.

Answer 6

he is hamlet's best friend

Answer 7

loyal