Horatio (Hamlet)

Uncommon card · No. 196908

Horatio is a character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. Horatio knows how old King Hamlet appeared in battle: "Such was the very armor he had on when he th'ambitious Norway combated, so frowned he once, when in an angry parle, he smote the sledded Pollacks on the ice" (Act 1) Horatio could know this from tapestries, reenactments, and other artwork. He tells Hamlet he has travelled to court from the University of Wittenberg (where he was familiar with Prince Hamlet) for the funeral of King Hamlet. Hamlet is surprised to see him, and Horatio remains at court without official appointment, simply as "Hamlet's friend". He is on relatively familiar terms with other characters. For example, when Gertrude (the queen) is reluctant to admit the "distract" Ophelia, she changes her mind following Horatio's advice. Hamlet has departed for England by this point, and is not supposed to return. Horatio makes a good foil and sounding board for Hamlet. Being from Wittenberg, a university that defined...

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