Hamlet's final request displays the relationship between the name Horatio and the Latin orator, which means "speaker". The author of the article “Understanding ‘Hamlet’” uses Horatio’s survival to claim he is the true murderer of King Hamlet. The author, Lysander Kemp, unjustly accuses Horatio when the only reason he survived was to tell the true story. Kemp argues that Claudius is innocent but he is incorrect. His arguments are based upon only assumptions and require changes being made to the play. Kemp misinterprets Horatio’s behavior and uses it to falsely accuse him of murder. Shakespeare meant for Claudius to be the true murderer.
It is argued that Hamlet was given false information by the Ghost leading him to believe Claudius is the …show more content…
All coincidences involving Horatio are being used against him when he is innocent. Horatio is Hamlet’s only trusted friend which is why Hamlet tells him everything. He does not use Hamlet for information. Hamlet tells Horatio of his deceitful plans such as faking insanity and using the play to catch Claudius in his guilt. When Hamlet tells Horatio of his act of deception towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio is shocked and disappointed (5.2.47-55,62). If he was a murderer, he would not have cared about who was killed if it kept him from being caught. Throughout “Hamlet”, Horatio shows several acts of friendship that the author mistakes as guilt. For example, when Horatio goes to see the Ghost with Hamlet, he is sworn to secrecy as a friend, not to keep his guilt hidden. Another act of Horatio’s loyalty is when he warns Hamlet not to take part in the duel with Laertes because he tries keeping Hamlet safe (5.2.204). The author’s strongest argument against Horatio is the fact that he survived at the end. Kemp uses Horatio’s survival to prove that he planned on gaining power. Kemp claims it is suspicious that Horatio is the only one to survive and tell his version of the story. In reality, Horatio only survives because Hamlet tells him to. Horatio was about to commit suicide and die with everyone else but Hamlet stops him (5.2.338-347). Horatio is meant to be the true speaker
It is argued that Hamlet was given false information by the Ghost leading him to believe Claudius is the …show more content…
All coincidences involving Horatio are being used against him when he is innocent. Horatio is Hamlet’s only trusted friend which is why Hamlet tells him everything. He does not use Hamlet for information. Hamlet tells Horatio of his deceitful plans such as faking insanity and using the play to catch Claudius in his guilt. When Hamlet tells Horatio of his act of deception towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio is shocked and disappointed (5.2.47-55,62). If he was a murderer, he would not have cared about who was killed if it kept him from being caught. Throughout “Hamlet”, Horatio shows several acts of friendship that the author mistakes as guilt. For example, when Horatio goes to see the Ghost with Hamlet, he is sworn to secrecy as a friend, not to keep his guilt hidden. Another act of Horatio’s loyalty is when he warns Hamlet not to take part in the duel with Laertes because he tries keeping Hamlet safe (5.2.204). The author’s strongest argument against Horatio is the fact that he survived at the end. Kemp uses Horatio’s survival to prove that he planned on gaining power. Kemp claims it is suspicious that Horatio is the only one to survive and tell his version of the story. In reality, Horatio only survives because Hamlet tells him to. Horatio was about to commit suicide and die with everyone else but Hamlet stops him (5.2.338-347). Horatio is meant to be the true speaker