Character Analysis: Horatio

1. "Friends to this ground." (I.1.14)

Horatio is saying to the two guards that are unable to see him that he is a friend to the country of Denmark. Horatio, throughout the book, is a good friend to both people and his country.

2. "The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever." (I.2.162-163)

Horatio has just walked into the room where Hamlet is and he greets him while saying that he is still Hamlet's loyal and respectable servant. Horatio shows here where his true loyalties lie, only with the legitimate king and his good friend, Hamlet.

3. "If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, and scape detecting, I will pay the theft. Sound a flourish." (III.2.90-91)

Hamlet is explaining to his good friend Horatio, who he trusts with all his heart, how the play that Hamlet wrote for the King called "The Mousetrap" is to guilt the king into showing in whatever way possible that he killed Hamlet's father. Horatio responds by saying that he will keep such a good eye on him and watch his every move. Horatio loves his friend Hamlet and he truly does show where his loyalties lie through this quote.

4. "If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit." (V.2.218-220)

Hamlet has just been given a challenge by Laertes to match him in a duel. Hamlet wants to do it very badly; however, Horatio senses that it will end badly (in which he is obviously correct). Horatio again displays some good wisdom here to the person that he cares about most.

5. "...All this I can truly deliver." (V.2.386-387)

Everyone has just died, including Hamlet, and Horatio is now seriously contemplating killing himself. Hamlet tells him specifically however to not kill himself, but rather to go and tell the story of exactly what happened to all the others. Fortinbras then comes in to find the dead bodies with Horatio, alive, in the midst of them. Horatio tells this to Forinbras; therefore, he is willing to deny what he so desperately wants to do, which is to kill himself, in order that he may honor his good and dear friend Hamlet.