Horatio (character)

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Horatio is Hamlet's friend from university in William Shakespeare's play. Apparently a commoner, or in any event not a close relation to the royal family, Horatio is not directly involved in the intrigue at the Danish court. He thus makes a good foil or sounding board for Hamlet. When the rational Horatio finds it hard to comprehend what is going on, with Hamlet being approached by the ghost of his fallen father, Hamlet says to him: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio/Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Not only is Horatio loyal and supportive he is a rational creature, "Horatio says 'tis but out fantasy,/ And will not let belief take hold of him". Without the proper proof Horatio is cynical about something as bizarre as a ghost of the dead king appearing. At the end of the play Horatio proposes to finish off the poisoned drink which was intended for Hamlet, but the dying prince wrestles the cup away from him and bids Horatio to live, help put things right in Denmark, and "in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain / To tell my story." This last request from Hamlet is interesting considering the simmilarities between the name Horatio and the Latin orator meaning "speaker".

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