You know, I see Horatio very similarly. I always feel like, Hamlet idealized his father as the fair-faced good-hearted conquering hero of a king, and spends his whole emo period trying to avenge him while at the same time proving he was worthy of his father's love -- that he's as awesome as his father was.
So asking Horatio to draw thy breath in pain to tell his story is Hamlet asking Horatio to effectively honor him the way Hamlet honored his father.
And Hamlet Sr. is painted so large that he has to live on after his death, death can't contain him, so Hamlet wants to make sure he leaves a legacy as strong as his father's.
So I feel like him telling Horatio to mourn forever is a hugely selfish and self-aggrandizing request, and sort of horrible, and it's only Horatio's LOVE for him, as you said, that keeps it from being a hideous request. You know, Hamlet never felt put-upon to bear out his father's legacy, and Horatio, with all his loyalty and love to give, would mourn Hamlet and tell his story forever without a second thought.
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Date: 2008-08-27 06:23 am (UTC)So asking Horatio to draw thy breath in pain to tell his story is Hamlet asking Horatio to effectively honor him the way Hamlet honored his father.
And Hamlet Sr. is painted so large that he has to live on after his death, death can't contain him, so Hamlet wants to make sure he leaves a legacy as strong as his father's.
So I feel like him telling Horatio to mourn forever is a hugely selfish and self-aggrandizing request, and sort of horrible, and it's only Horatio's LOVE for him, as you said, that keeps it from being a hideous request. You know, Hamlet never felt put-upon to bear out his father's legacy, and Horatio, with all his loyalty and love to give, would mourn Hamlet and tell his story forever without a second thought.
Mmmm, Horatio.