Noble is My Middle Name

Is there anyone in this play that deserves to be called noble?  In my opinion, there definitely is, and he is none other than Hamlet's best friend and right-hand man, Horatio.  Horatio puts his friend first, not fearing whomever it is he must confront, or whatever it is he must do, if it means he can help Hamlet; he is selfless.

Ears are a reoccurring motif in the play, and when put in prospective to Horatio, the image in my mind of words acting as poison to the ear (aka lies, and everyone being deceitful to Hamlet), a vulnerable ear, finds an earplug.  Horatio helps Hamlet find hidden truths and certainties, however impossible they seemed before. He does his best to not only protect Hamlet, such as when advising him to refuse the duel with Laertes ("You will lose this wager, my lord."(5.2.200)), but to aid him however he can. He was the one that let Hamlet know of the ghost of his father, helped read and interpret Claudius's reactions to The Mousetrap, and offered to die to follow his friend; "Here's yet some liquor left" (5.2.334), addressing the poisoned cup.  In that very moment, he didn't fear even death itself.

Horatio's nobility can be seen in little bits and snippets elsewhere as well.  When the Queen refuses to speak with Ophelia, Horatio advises her that "[Ophelia] is importunate, indeed distract: Her mood will needs be pitied." (4.5.2-3) He knows when to be lenient and empathetic.  I also think that sometimes, a person's true self is best described through someone else.  Forming a parallel with Hamlet's other 'friends' Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio is an example of a true friend.  Hamlet says it himself, "Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of men distinguish, her election Hath seal'd thee for herself..." (3.2.62-64) These are the words of a man that sent his other two friends to their deaths.  

Clearly, Horatio is a person as well.  He had his life to live too; he was still in university. Nonetheless, noble Horatio had morals and values precious to him to keep, meaning he was loyal to Hamlet till the very end, acting as a beacon of strength, wisdom and hope.

Finally, in respects to the world today, I'd like to hope that noble people still exist.  This video is a very modern example of nobility at its finest.  There's no doubt that money might just be the most important thing in our society today, dictating our lives and how we'll live it.  The video shows us that in these times, people still hold high and proper values.   


http://www.santabanta.com/photos/friendship/9024103.htm