Homework

This week

-Read and do all the work in chapter 14 on Irony
- OPTIONAL- begin reading hobbit. You'll have two weeks to do this so if you'd like more time go ahead and get started.
-Blog a brief bio on J. R. R. Tolkien and/or the Inklings.


Anndd

If you're interested in the University of Mobile check out this awesome article on our honors program-

http://www.umobile.edu/NewsEvents/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1608/University-of-Mobile-Honors-Program-Invites-Students-to-Continue-Conversations-from-3000-BC.aspx

Horatio and Hamlet

The classic tale Hamlet by William Shakespeare is filled with many colorful and distinct characters. One of the things that make this story so striking is the vivid relationships between the characters. The most apparent relationship present in the story is the one between Hamlet and his best friend Horatio. Even though they are close friends they are quite different from another.

When studying the story of hamlet one of the biggest things that jumps out is how disloyal Hamlet appears. He trusts few people and is trusted by even less. Horatio on the other hand is one of the most consistent characters in the story. He has an unwavering loyalty to his good friend Hamlet. 

Another significant difference between the two is how strange Hamlet starts acting while Horatio remains relatively unchanged throughout the scenario. During the story Hamlet starts to act as if he has gone mad to fool his sneaky foes. Horatio, though, demonstrates his unchanging attributes by staying level headed and making rational well thought out decisions.

Lastly, the difference with the biggest and most influential implication is how Hamlet becomes overcome with the sense of revenge. These over controlling emotions that poss him eventually lead to his demise. Horatio’s cool head leads to him being the only main character to live to the end of the story. 

These many dissimilarities between Hamlet and Horatio make the story not just more relatable but they also adds depth to the story. 

Horatio

     Hamlet and Horatio's relationship is the most non skewed relationship in the entire play. They both have an equal respect for each other and have no ulterior motive for being friends with each other. No matter what horatio was loyal to hamlet even when hamlet asked him to preform a sting operation on his stepfather/uncle. Horatio and Hamlets relationship never falters even when Hamlet starts to (actually) go insane. Hamlet is the loose cannon in the friendship and Horatio is more sound minded thinking more before he acts. The similarities between Hamlet and Horatio is that they are both extremely smart. Their friendship serves as hope throughout the play that the play is not entirely about pain and conspiracy. Horatio is also the only main character who lives at the end of the play. Hamlet even told him to not commit suicide before he died. Horatio is (to me) the most likable person in the play because he never betrays hamlet and does not go insane.

Hammy and Horatio

       In the story of Hamlet, prince Hamlet and his best friend Horatio are very different. Horatio is is the ultimate loyal friend. He accepts his life and the world as it is rather than driving himself mad by questioning all apparent realities and truths. His intelligence is admired by Marcellus and Bernardo; such as in scene one when the ghost appears and they ask Horatio to "approve our eyes and speak to it." Horatio is quick witted and can follow Hamlet's intense play with words but does not feel obligated to engage in them. Horatio loves Hamlet so much that he would rather die than to go on living life without his best friend. He trusts Hamlet and supports all but one of his decisions which was when Hamlet plans the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
        Hamlet on the other hand is selfish, thinking only of himself and his revenge throughout most of the story. He uses his 'madness' and eccentric word plays to appear innocent and unknowing while he plans his revenge. He questions himself and all apparent realities such as who his his friends are, if his mother really know Claudius is a murderer, and if he loves Ophelia or not. Hamlet does trust Horatio, but he does not express his love and admiration for him until he lies on his death bed. He entrusts Horatio with his dying will to tell the true story of his and his father's death. And in Hamlet's way, this is how he shows his love for Horatio.

Hamatio and Horlet

The purpose of Hamlet and Horatio's relationship in Shakespeare's Hamlet stands as a
 significant one; to provide an ounce of sun in the otherwise dark story, to form a
 foil to Hamlet and the rest of the characters and finally, to add humanity.

Hamlet's reality seems unfair. His father has been murdered, his mother has latched on to
the most readily available suitor and his love doesn't necessarily want to love him anymore.
 Dark times in Denmark. Horatio first and foremost adds light to the dark circumstances
with his annual release of comedic matters with Hamlet that are not laced with Sarcasm. The friendship is placed in the story to make the sinister deeds and words of the King, Queen etc. look grosser in comparison to the purity of the relationship.

 Contrasting sharply to the rest of the characters with sincerity,
Horatio and Hamlet's relationship feels honest and true, and Horatio's sacrificial and considerate
 mannerisms act as the perfect foil to the greed and selfishness of the main characters in Hamlet. Whereas Hamlet remains obsessed with revenge and takes his wishes to the grave, Horatio sacrificially offers suicide to make even with Hamlet but is commanded to tell his story, to which he complies.

Furthermore, humanity among the savagery of revenge and murder is added with the touching moments of sincere friendship that crop up occasionally with Horatio and Hamlet. The platonic affection they have for one another is apparent through Horatio's sacrifices and actions toward Hamlet. The darkness of the play is evened out with the few rays of positivity delivered by Hamlet and Horatio.

Horatio and Hamlet

     The friendship between Hamlet and Horatio is a vital part of the play because their relationship gives

insight into Hamlet’s character throughout the entire play. Horatio is the only character Hamlet can

really trust. He is the only one that knows that Hamlets madness is an act. Not only does Horatio know

that Hamlet is still sane, but he also sees the ghost. This helps to prove that Hamlet really sees a Ghost.   

Hamlet could soliloquize until the end, but his conversations with Horatio really help ground the play in

reality. Apart from the soliloquies, the conversations between Hamlet and Horatio are really the only

sight we have to Hamlets true thoughts and feelings.  If it were not for Horatio there would be no

questioning Hamlets insanity.  Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities which he does not have himself;

Things like being able to speak to the ghost without fear, and have self control. When Hamlet is dying,

Horatio is ready for suicide. He does not want to live if his best friend cannot live too. While Hamlet is

dying he asks Horatio to take over Denmark and help form it back into what it is supposed to be. He still

thinks heavily about suicide, but then decides not to act out of his uncontrollable emotions but in a

sense of honor help the people in Denmark as his dying friend asked.  

It is Horatio who makes Hamlet who he is and it is Horatio who makes Hamlet the powerful tragedy it

has proven itself to be.

Opposites Attract

     Hamlet and Horatio shared a very special relationship. Even though their characteristics were complete opposites, their friendship lasted until Hamlet's parting.
     Hamlet was unstable in his thoughts. He questioned as to whether it would be better to live or die and shifts between killing his uncle Claudius or leaving him be. He showed anger towards his mother, his uncle and his life's situation. He resorted to acting crazy with the idea of getting by with murdering his uncle, just as he got by with the accidental murder of Polonius without serious punishment. Hamlet put his sharp tongue to use on several occasions. The victims of his harsh words wouldn't even know that they have been insulted. For example, after Hamlet tells Rosencrantz that the king is using him, Rosencrantz says that he does not understand. Hamlet replies "I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear" (Act IV, Scene II, lines 23-24). Rosencrantz is oblivious to the statement and asks where Polonius's body is. Hamlet was also unpredictable. His acting insane added to the uncertainty of his schemes and actions.
     Horatio was skeptical and sensible. For instance, he wouldn't believe that King Hamlet appeared as a ghost until he saw it with his own eyes. He was also very loyal to Hamlet in the way that he endured through his ever-changing plans and requests. In addition to these traits, he was trustworthy. When Hamlet asks him to keep his father's ghost and his pretending to be crazy a secret, Horatio kept quiet. He also carried out Hamlet's final wish to tell people the story of what really happened.
     Hamlet and Horatio's relationship served two purposes in the play. One purpose is to offer the reader insight to Hamlet's thoughts and plans. Hamlet told Horatio many things, whether it was his thoughts on the grave digger's handling of the dead or his plan to "catch the conscience of the King" (Act II, Scene II, line 634). Horatio was Hamlet's confidant. He was really the only person Hamlet felt comfortable talking to. The second purpose of their friendship is to exaggerate the other character. For example, Hamlet was unpredictable in his ideas and schemes whereas Horatio remained the same- loyal and trustworthy. Hamlet insulted others in comparison to Horatio who was gentle and always agreed to whatever Hamlet said. Despite their differences, their friendship stayed true and strong to the end.