ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Horatio. Hamlet’s close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet’s death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet’s story.

Detailed explanation-2: -Horatio is Hamlet’s closest friend and studied with him at university in Wittenberg. Horatio remains loyal to Hamlet throughout the play and is trusted by Hamlet until the end. He is one of the only characters who survive in the play and he tells Hamlet’s story to Prince Fortinbras in the final scene.

Detailed explanation-3: -Horatio epitomizes the faithful friend. He only questions Hamlet’s judgment once, when Hamlet confides the fates of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Otherwise, Horatio supports every rash decision Hamlet makes. Horatio is the man Hamlet wants to be.

Detailed explanation-4: -As a character, Horatio is presented to us as utterly dependable, well educated, stoical, dispassionate and devout. Of all the major characters, he alone remains uncontaminated by the corruption in Elsinore, and Hamlet’s election of him as the person to tell his story is thoroughly appropriate.

Detailed explanation-5: -Horatio’s role, though secondary, is central to the drama. Through his role of ‘outside observer’, he makes the audience believe Hamlet’s actions, no matter how incredible they may look to readers at first sight. For example, Horatio sees the Ghost, so the audience is led to believe that the Ghost is real.