Hamlet and HoratioHorace occupies the place of honor in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, as he is the only character among the dramatis personae extremely close to the protagonist. Horatio's emotional bond with the hero is paradoxically closer than that of Hamlet's mother with the hero. This essay will examine the character of Horatio, Hamlet's truest friend. DG James's essay, “The New Doubt,” explains the hero's passionate admiration for Horatio: But we must note how Hamlet speaks of Horatio; he does it with words of passionate admiration. His election had sealed Horace for himself because, suffering everything, Horace suffered nothing; and he is the man who is not a slave to the passion he would like to wear deep in his heart. How clearly he would be like Horace! Yet, faced with what happened, should he be like Horace? or should he not take up arms against his evils and violently put an end to them and perhaps thereby to himself? (45) In the Introduction to Twentieth-Century Interpretations of Hamlet, David Bevington shows great insight into Horatio's character: how much Horatio's philosophical skepticism may limit his ability to perceive those "things in heaven and earth " that Hamlet would like him to observe, Horatio remains the companion from whom Hamlet has the most to learn. Hamlet can trust that his friend will not try to advance or reveal the terrible secret of the royal murder. Best of all, Horace is "As one who suffers all that suffers nothing, A man whom Fortune slaps and rewards Hast ta'en with equal thanks." . .] Like Hamlet, Horatio believes that death is bliss and even tries to take his own life. Yet he accepts his duty “even in this hard worldly success…… middle of paper……, 1992.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.htmlWest, Rebecca. “A Court and a world infected by the disease of corruption”. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardò. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957. Wilkie, Brian, and James Hurt. “Shakespeare”. Literature of the Western world. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992. Wright, Louis B., and Virginia A. LaMar. "Hamlet: a man who thinks before he acts." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardò. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. Np: Paperback books, 1958.