Essay on Horatio Essay

Often overlooked in the critical analysis of the play, Horatio is a reference work whose actions are of no major importance, yet in the context of the plays meaning, his role is crucial. Like the Ghost, Horatio helps Shakespeare to refine the c at one timept of the virtuous man. This is shown through Horatios ideals, his relationship with juncture, their differences and similarities. We assume that his studies in Wittenberg make develop his logical thinking and gum olibanum he would naturally reject the possibility of a ghost moreover he is the one to tell Hamlet about his fathers apparition. Even after witnessing the Ghost, Horatio remains a rationalist.His mind is sober, and he encourages Hamlet to economise self-control a key virtue of the Stoics. Yet when Hamlet dies (possibly in Horatios arms, dep caning on stage directions) the roles reverse Horatio, charged by Hamlets passion, almost dies with the prince. For the audience, Horatio becomes a separate and important enti ty as Hamlet delivers the speech about his character that defines Hamlets own ideals. Shakespeare gives Hamlet the chance to translator the faculties he admires, thus giving us another chance to understand the greater aspirations and aims of the protagonist.He says Horatio, thou art een as unspoiled a man As eer my conversation coped withal. Nay do not think I flatter, Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of manpower distinguish, her election Hath sealed thee to herself for thou hast been As one, in suffring all, that suffers nothing A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards Hath taen with equal give thanks and blest are those Whose blood and judgment are so well co-mingled That they are not a pipe in Fortunes thumb To sound what stop she please. Give me that man.That is not passions slave, and I will wear him In my hearts core, ay in my heart of heart, As I do thee. (3. 253-73) Horatio is not passions slave if passions, like Fortune, is personified, then i t becomes a sort of ancient deity that chooses to blind humans and deny them all rational choice. To a certain extent, all other characters in the tragedy are to varying degree subject to their passions. Horatio by contrast is lull and stable he is skeptical and rational, as can be seen from his encounter with the Ghost.If passion is a disease-like quality that Hamlet believes to be defectious, then Horatio exemplifies a light and honourable person honest by definition, since he does not allow passions to fool his conscience and shrive any selfish means or aims. as yet the most important aspect highlighted by the Prince is Horatios philosophical understanding of life. The speech suggests Horatio is a follower of Stoicism, an ancient way of thinking developed once by the ancients and then revived by the great thinkers of the Renaissance. Founded by Xenon, (334-262b. c. ) the philosophy taught to discipline ones behaviour according to ones rational mind.Hamlet states that his id eal is such. However the prince himself is not free or deprived of passions. The qualities he admires in Horatio are starkly different to the ones he himself displays in his genuinely first monologue. He speaks of evil as self-slaughter and cannot come to terms with things rank and grosse in nature (1. 2) Hamlet is a man of many different moods and tempers in this one speech he begins disgusted, grows more passionate in his hatred and it is not until the last two line of that speech when Hamlet says I essential hold my tongue and regains control of his emotions.It is clear the protagonist cannot remain unaffected when he sees evils manifestation in any form his unit being actively protests and rejects amoral and dishonourable actions. Because of this, Hamlets ideal human nature that Shakespeare personifies through Horatios character remains, until the time comes at the end of the play, inappropriate Hamlets own. Preparing to fight Laertes, says to Horatio who is desperately tryin g to pr purget the Prince from fencing, convinced he will lose There is special providence in the radiate of a sparrow (5.2).This whole speech signifies the way Hamlet matures from admiring into exhibiting Stoic ideals, yet applying them in a more universal way than Horatio. Through hardship and experience Hamlet accepts Fate, but refuses to step aside and give up fighting for his cause. He takes Horatios logic and focus, acknowledges all the basis of the teachings of Stoicism, yet unites this with his yearning desire to fight evil and restore justice. Horatios attempts to save Hamlet from death are doomed, because the protagonist believes the question about his own life has been decided, and thus no longer bothers him.A true Stoic does not fear death. Hamlets mysterious last words, uttered to Horatio, echo this the rest is put away (5. 2. 351) Furthermore, if at the beginning of the play Hamlet and Horatio lack the virtues of each other (Hamlet, unlike his friend, cannot dista nce himself from anxieties, whereas Horatio comes across as almost emotionally withdrawn), by the end different dimensions of both characters are revealed to us. Horatio, although still wise and composed, truly loves Hamlet.Realising the imminence of the Princes death, Horatio grabs the cup with the remaining poison, ready to follow his friend in death. Hamlet stops him and, on his deathbed, urges Horatio to remember the philosophy they both adored, and live by it If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this jolty world draw thy breath in pain To tell my story. It is important that Hamlet hands over his secret to Horatio, trusting him to clear his name and justify his actions to posterity. Horatio obeys and we trust him to communicate the truth, restoring Hamlets innocence.Horatios character helps us to understand Hamlet better, to realise how the protagonist matures, and witness the best in him even as he lay dying. Shakespeares inclusion of Horatio and his relationship with Hamlet stresses the importance of nobility, dignity, felicity and other moral principles and virtues valued by the Ancient. And lastly, Horatio rules out a conclusive judgment concerning Hamlets death and his suffering, and tells of them as carnal, bloody and unnatural acts ensuring the audience perceived those strong feelings too.