Re: Hamlet didn't know the value of what he had -- Great Books II

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Date Posted: 18:58:50 02/24/08 Sun
Author: tsawyer
Subject: Re: Hamlet didn't know the value of what he had
In reply to: Rage Against 's message, "Re: Hamlet didn't know the value of what he had" on 20:35:03 02/23/08 Sat

I think you guys are both right, but missing past the bigger question: what causes Hamlet to look for revenge models over the less fiery model given by Horatio? Hamlet obviously resists the examples given him across the board. His father, Laertes, Fortinbras, even Claudius would encourage him (by their actions) to take revenge (obviously Claudius wouldn't say so in so many words, but his example is the model). Yet Hamlet hesitates throughout the play because his conscience holds him back.

If then, as Joel asked, Hamlet has this model of Horatio which conforms to what Hamlet's conscience would have him do, why doesn't he emulate Horatio? They have similar backgrounds as scholars and Hamlet obviously trusts him as a friend and as council.

I think the royalty v. not royalty answer kind of blows off the point. It seems to me that, perhaps unconsciously, Hamlet does end up imitating Horatio. Each of his delayed actions and musings are those of a scholar and a thinker, not of a man of action. Think back to the first act when Horatio will talk to the Ghost, but will not follow it. We know Hamlet isn't a replica of Horatio because he does follow the Ghost, yes, but we also see him pause and consider his actions and thoughts very much like a scholar (Horatio) would.

I guess my thought is that maybe Hamlet's desires fight his conscience the whole time and Horatio is like a Jimmeny Cricket while all his revenge models beckon from the world around. We know his conscience loses - when the play ends, Claudius (along with pretty much everything else) is dead, but I think Hamlet is aware of his two paths from the very beginning.

Horatio calls, "Be ruled, You shall not go," and Hamlet runs away.

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