Ever watched a movie or a television show and wonder why a character is there? The character at a glance seems irrelevant and useless. In William Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, a well-known play about a son’s quest for revenge for his father’s murder, the very same thing occurs. Horatio, Prince Hamlet’s best friend, at first glance seems like a very unimportant character. Some people argue that Horatio is an insignificant character and say that his actions have no impact on advancement of plot. However, through his role in advancement of plot, character revelation, and reinforcement of theme Horatio proves himself to be an important character in Hamlet. Some may argue, that Horatio is unimportant because he does not advance the plot of the play.
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After the duel between Laertes and Hamlet ends and Hamlet lays dying on the floor. As a final request he asks Horatio to tell the true story of what happened during the play. Horatio stricken with the grief of his dying friend and the threat of Fortinbras’s approaching army attempts to kill himself, exclaiming, “Never believe it. / I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. / Here’s yet some liquor left” (Hamlet 5.2.332-334). In this quote, Horatio refuses his friend’s dying request and says that he is more roman that Dane. Horatio shows that like a roman he would rather kill himself than accept defeat and attempts to drink from the poisoned goblet. Horatio does not follow through with this act in the end. Horatio shows loyalty to Hamlet by telling Hamlet that he would rather die besides him than continue on living without his best friend. Horatio’s remarkable act of loyalty towards Hamlet helps reinforce the theme of honour and loyalty because Horatio is loyal to Hamlet even to the point of death. Horatio also reinforces the theme of honour by comparing himself to a roman. Roman society, specifically its army, was characterised by honour and Horatio would rather be associated with this culture than the present Danish one he lives in. Horatio values his honour and is willing to kill himself so that he dies with it and does not lose it. Horatio is key in reinforcing the theme of honour and loyalty making him an important
After the duel between Laertes and Hamlet ends and Hamlet lays dying on the floor. As a final request he asks Horatio to tell the true story of what happened during the play. Horatio stricken with the grief of his dying friend and the threat of Fortinbras’s approaching army attempts to kill himself, exclaiming, “Never believe it. / I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. / Here’s yet some liquor left” (Hamlet 5.2.332-334). In this quote, Horatio refuses his friend’s dying request and says that he is more roman that Dane. Horatio shows that like a roman he would rather kill himself than accept defeat and attempts to drink from the poisoned goblet. Horatio does not follow through with this act in the end. Horatio shows loyalty to Hamlet by telling Hamlet that he would rather die besides him than continue on living without his best friend. Horatio’s remarkable act of loyalty towards Hamlet helps reinforce the theme of honour and loyalty because Horatio is loyal to Hamlet even to the point of death. Horatio also reinforces the theme of honour by comparing himself to a roman. Roman society, specifically its army, was characterised by honour and Horatio would rather be associated with this culture than the present Danish one he lives in. Horatio values his honour and is willing to kill himself so that he dies with it and does not lose it. Horatio is key in reinforcing the theme of honour and loyalty making him an important