Compare and contrast between horatio and hamlet
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How are Horatio and Hamlet different?
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BJPUP eNotes educator | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
Though Hamlet and Horatio are both scholars and friends who become very close over the course of the play, the two men are, as your question points out, markedly different. One particular area where this difference is most apparent is in each man's willingness to accept the supernatural. Specifically: Horatio is a skeptic and Hamlet is a believer.
Horatio's skepticism is one of the first things we learn about him. As Marcellus brings the reluctant Horatio along to meet with Barnardo and watch for the ghost, Marcellus says Horatio "will not let belief take hold of him." In fact, Horatio is so sure the ghost is a "fantasy" that he scolds the two men, saying, "Tush, tush, 'twill not appear." (I.i.23-30)
Compare this reticence with Hamlet's response to hearing about the ghost of his father. Whereas Horatio had to be dragged out to watch for it, Hamlet is quick to say "I will watch tonight. Perchance 'twill walk again." (I.ii.242-3) Hamlet even goes on to talk about the possible portents of this ghost's appearance.