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Horatio and the Pirates
Action is consolatory. It is the enemy of thought and the friend of flattering illusions. Only in the conduct of our action can we find the sense of mastery over the Fates.
Joseph Conrad, Nostromo
Who is Horatio, and what is his relationship to Hamlet? Start with the simple facts. He is a fellow student at Wittenberg, apparently Danish; he speaks repeatedly of the elder Hamlet as âour Kingâ, of Denmark and Danes as âour climatures and countrymenâ (1.1.79, 83, 90, 124).1 But unlike Hamletâs childhood playmates, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (2.2.11â12), Horatio is not from Elsinore. He is not familiar with certain customs of the Danish court (1.2.174; 1.4.12), nor with various persons one would likely encounter there (such as Laertes, or Osric; 5.1.213; 5.2.69â70). He speaks of having seen King Hamlet but âonceâ (1.2.185). Presumably this would have been somewhere else in the realm, perhaps on a royal progress through his home town; and it must have been fairly recently, as by then the Kingâs beard, like that of the ghost, was âgrizzledâ (âIt was as I have seen it in his life: / A sable silveredâ; 1.2.237â9). Horatio also recognizes the armour King Hamlet had worn when he achieved his famous victory over King Fortinbras of Norway (1.1.59â60). As this was a memorable event in Danish history â hence, known by practically everyone in the country (1.1.81â94; cf. 5.1.135â9) â we may presume the Kingâs âvery armourâ would be prominently on display in the castleâs Great Hall.2
Even prior to his belated meeting with Hamlet, Horatio is received at Elsinore as a gentleman, is accommodated within the royal environs, has made himself known to some of Hamletâs friends and partisans, and is privy to some court gossip (such as the reason for all the feverish military preparations; 1.1.74â9). But again in contrast to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, all the textual evidence attests to his being a loyal and trustworthy friend to Hamlet. Moreover, he is viewed as such by others who are similarly loyal, notably the soldiers Marcellus and Barnardo.
As for his character and temperament, it is variously indicated that he regards himself, and is recognized by others, as classically learned and philosophically self-conscious. Speaking more precisely, he is apparently some combination of a sceptical empiricist, for whom (accordingly) rationality and perceptual evidence is authoritative, and a moral stoic (âmore an antique Roman than a Daneâ; 5.2.325). Indeed, the former is the first thing we learn about him, and the latter is the last. Marcellus tells Barnardo of his recruiting Hamletâs friend and fellow âscholarâ to witness âthis thingâ that had previously appeared to them: âHoratio says âtis but our fantasy / And will not let belief take hold of him / Touching this dreadful sight twice seen of us.â But after the Ghost has first come and gone, Barnardo challenges him: âHow now, Horatio? You tremble and look pale. / Is not this something more than fantasy?â Horatio affirms as much, citing his own criteria for rational judgements: âBefore my God, I might not this believe / Without the sensible and true avouch / Of mine own eyesâ (1.1.22â8, 41, 52â7). Moreover, with the existence of such phenomena apparently confirmed, he is readier to credit what he has read in ancient sources about supernatural events attending the death of Caesar. Likewise, having seen for himself the Ghostâs second departure upon the crowing of a cock, he allows that this supports what he has heard about âextravagant and erring spiritsâ fleeing to their âconfineâ upon the approach of day. By contrast, he remains more guarded concerning Marcellusâs report of what âsome sayâ about the salubrious qualities of the Christmas season: âSo I have heard and do in part believe itâ (1.1.147â55, 164).3
Hamlet seems well acquainted with Horatioâs principled scepticism, hence with his corresponding emphasis on dispassionate objectivity in observation and analysis; we see Hamlet appeal to that spirit by way of drafting his friendâs participation in the âMousetrapâ conspiracy. Indeed, given the Princeâs own meditative nature, it is likely that shared philosophical interests is a â if not the â basis of their relationship. What else could it be, given their radically different social and economic circumstances? But while shared philosophical interests imply a degree of philosophical agreement â on the value of pursuing wisdom, if nothing else, though usually much more â it need not imply complete accord. Quite the contrary: such a relationship may thrive precisely by virtue of a respectful diversity of perspective. That some such diversity exists is suggested by Hamlet after his own emotionally charged encounter with the Ghost, chiding his friend concerning the limitations implicit in âyour philosophyâ.
Horatio is not, however, a really close friend, if by that we mean a person with whom âone has all things in commonâ, whether good or bad4 â the sort of bosom buddy with whom Hamlet shares his innermost thoughts and troubles and intentions, upon whom he relies for guidance or counsel, from whom he keeps no secrets, and to whom he tells no lies.5 Much less is he, as some suggest, Hamletâs alter superego.6 True, the Prince sometimes speaks as if Horatio were such a soul-mate, most notably in recruiting him to be a second judge of the Kingâs reaction to the so-called Mousetrap, gushing that Horatio is âas just a manâ as Hamlet has ever laid eyes on:
Nay, do not think I flatter,
For what advancement may I hope from thee
That no revenue hast but thy good spirits
To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flattered?
. . .
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice,
And could of men distinguish her election,
Shâath sealed thee for herself; for thou hast been
As one in suffering all that suffers nothing â
A man that Fortuneâs buffets and rewards
Hast taâen with equal thanks. And blest are those
Whose blood and judgment are so well co-meddled
That they are not a pipe for Fortuneâs finger
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
That is not passionâs slave, and I will wear him
In my heartâs core â ay, in my heart of heart â
As I do thee. (3.2.52â70)7
All in all, a panegyric worthy of the noble Osric. Well might Horatio express embarrassment. There are, of course, numerous reasons to flatter besides hope of material reward. For example, one may simply wish to please by gratifying a personâs vanity. Especially pleasing is praise of that in which one knows the person takes special pride. One may thereby â not incidentally â gain or strengthen his affection. Beyond this, a flatterer may wish to ingratiate, perhaps encouraging the flattered to do oneâs bidding, or otherwise seek to please in return, if only by being agreeable. And there are grounds for suspecting that Hamlet has an ulterior purpose in attributing exemplary Stoicism to Horatio, something to do with the service this flattery prefaces. Hence we might see in it more than a touch of irony. So too, then, in what would otherwise pass as a declaration of closest comradeship.7
While certainly cordial beyond mere politeness, one would not presume a deep personal friendship from the manner in which Hamlet greets his schoolfellow upon first encountering him at Elsinore. Horatio, accompanied by Marcellus and Barnardo, has sought out the Prince in order to report the three menâs several encounters with a ghost in the likeness of Hamletâs father. However, prior to Horatioâs understandably hesitant telling of their implausible story, the following exchange takes place.
Horatio. | | Hail to your lordship. |
Hamlet. | | I am glad to see you well â Horatio, or I do forget myself. |
Horatio. | | The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. |
Hamlet. | | Sir, my good friend, Iâll change that name with you. And what makes you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus! |
Marcellus. | | My good lord. |
Hamlet. | | I am very glad to see you. â [to Barnardo] Good even, sir. â But what in faith make you from Wittenberg? |
Horatio. | | A truant disposition, good my lord. |
Hamlet. | | I would not hear your enemy say so. Nor shall you do my ear that violence To make it truster of your own report Against yourself. I know you are no truant; But what is your affair in Elsinore? Weâll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.8 |
Horatio. | | My lord, I came to see your fatherâs funeral. |
Hamlet. | | I prithee do not mock me, fellow-student, I think it was to see my motherâs wedding. |
Horatio. | | Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. |
Hamlet. | | Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. |
(1.2.160â80; cf. 3.2.177)
So, based on this initial conversation, what might we surmise concerning the HamletâHoratio relationship? Hamlet is clearly surprised to see Horatio â indeed, seems not even to recognize him at first, displaced from their Wittenberg context. But perhaps the sky is overcast, the light within the castle accordingly dim. Be that as it may, Hamlet finds Horatioâs presence in Elsinore, entailing as it does his absence from school, sufficiently puzzling as to justify his persistent inquiry. Horatio has no chance to respond the first time asked, Hamletâs attention being diverted to Marcellus, whom he recognizes at once and greets by name (they must be on familiar terms, as the soldier knew where to find the reclusive Prince at this time of day; 1.1.173â4), then by his acknowledging Barnardo, with whom he apparently is not so well acquainted. When Hamlet turns back and asks a second time, Horatio mocks the question with a bit of self-deprecating humour, alleging âa truant dispositionâ. Perhaps he assumes the reason for his presence would be obvious, thus the question a mere formality inviting a light-hearted response. But since Hamletâs curiosity is genuine, this does not satisfy him, so he inquires yet a third time (and mind the meter): âBut what is your affair in Elsinore?â â adding the sort of quip that one might upon welcoming an unexpected first-time guest. Notice, however, for all Hamletâs puzzlement, he never hints at a possibility that Horatio has been âsent for [by] the Good King and Queenâ (whereas Hamlet immediately suspects this of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, having known them since childhood).9
Possibly somewhat abashed, Horatio modestly explains, âMy lord, I came to see your fatherâs funeral.â If Hamlet regarded Horatio as a particularly close friend, he would hardly have needed to be told this. A close friendâs presence in these circumstances would be perfectly natural, first as a mark of respect for both father and son, but primarily to offer his condolence and whatever support and comfort he could in the unhappy time. Indeed, this sort of thing practically defines really close friends. Moreover, Horatio has already been at Elsinore at least a month (supposing he arrived in time for the funeral), but Hamlet was unaware of the fact. Evidently he had neither noticed nor been approached by Horatio at the funeral. Even presuming that before and after the solemnities the Prince had kept himself in mournful seclusion, a close and dear friend would ensure that somehow Hamlet was informed of his presence, thus of his availability should Hamlet feel the need of sympathetic companionship. Obviously Marcellus, who knows where the Prince may be found at a given time, would willingly have conveyed such a message. Whereas, were it not for the Ghost, who knows how long Horatio might have waited for a suitable occasion to meet with his royal schoolmate.10
However, rega...