Blog Post #19: Character Post #5

The song I choose for Horatio is "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman. This song represents Horatio role within the whole scheme of events: as Hamlet's friend who supported his actions to the end.

At the very beginning of the play, Horatio and Hamlet's friendship was encompassed with Horatio immediately telling his friend about the "apparition" he observed while on watch (1.2.211). This trust between the two characters establishes their relationship and shows Horatio's loyalty towards Hamlet. Even when Hamlet refused to heed Horatio's warnings that the ghost would "tempt [him] toward the flood" or to a "dreadful summit of the cliff" he still wanted to follow Hamlet to ensure his safety (1.4.69, 70).  And when Hamlet withholds the information about his encounter with the ghost and makes him pledge to "never make known what you have seen to-night" (1.5.142).

Horatio is continually at the "service" of Hamlet throughout the play which parallels to the main chorus of my song choice (3.2.36). Not only are the two friends, but Horatio still has an immense amount of respect for Hamlet calling him "my lord" whenever they speak (5.1.82). When Hamlet returns from England, Horatio is the first to see him and they travel together to the graveyard. When Laertes attacks Hamlet, Horatio is the first to offer advice to his friend urging him to "be quiet" as Laertes threatens his life (5.1.212). Horatio stands by Hamlet in many forms. After someone knocks on the door when both characters are speaking with each other he demands to know the identity of the person at the door asking, "Peace! who comes here?" to ensure that whoever is entering does not present a threat to Hamlet (5.2.80).

In the end, Horatio shows his friendship towards Hamlet by offering to kill himself because he cannot live without his friend. But Hamlet wants Horatio to be his "dying voice", to tell his story (5.2.320). Horatio must then move on by himself and say farewell to Hamlet as he joins the "flights of angels" (5.2.324). It is a moment of immense sadness for Horatio because all of his actions in the play up until this moment were to support Hamlet. Horatio's willingness to end his own life along with Hamlet shows that "there isn't anything [Horatio] wouldn't do for" Hamlet (Newman).

As a character, Horatio's actions speak louder than his words. His actions in support of Hamlet shows his true nature although he may only speak a few words in the scenes he is in. Horatio's loyalty to Hamlet was never in question even when Hamlet questioned his own actions. Hamlet truly has a "friend in" Horatio (Newman).