Re: Horatio and Hamlet -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 23:47:23 04/26/08 Sat
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Re: Horatio and Hamlet
In reply to: Caitlin 's message, "Re: Horatio and Hamlet" on 14:29:07 04/24/08 Thu

I suppose we can look at Horatio as an outsider to the community, since he usually is at Wittenberg, outside the rule of Denmark, and self-described as �more an antique Roman than a Dane� (5.2). But I don�t know what good this does for understanding the tragedy in terms of mimetic theory. For Girard, the significance of an outsider is that he makes an easy scapegoat. Horatio does seem perfect for this role, since he is an outsider yet technically a Danish citizen . . . but to what end? He is not killed or exiled; neither is he a great example of deference to his rivals in a way significant to the tragedy. (He is deferential to Hamlet, whom Katelyn suggests is Horatio�s model, and therefore his potential rival. But this mediation and potential rivalry does not seem pertinent to the slaughter in 5.2).

Also, I suppose we can say that Horatio �begins everything� by approaching Hamlet, but it�s really Marcellus, Bernardo, and Francisco who put the idea that the ghost is Hamlet�s father into Horatio�s head: �Bernardo: In the same figure, like the king that�s dead.�

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Replies:

Re: Horatio and Hamlet -- CS Holden, 14:15:53 04/28/08 Mon