Hamlet and Horatio: True friendship

Friend can be defined as a person whom one knows, likes and trusts. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement. The relationship between Hamlet and Horatio fits this definition and can definitely be described as "Good Love." The love Hamlet had for Horatio was so great; profound. Hamlet shared relationships with several characters in the play that took him on an emotional rollercoaster. But the bond he shared with Horatio remained constant throughout the play.thumb|right|335 px
==Hamlet and Horatio==
   The role of Horatio in the play, Hamlet was very important. Every other relationship Hamlet shared with the other characters was emotional, complex and deceitful. Hamlet does share some degree of love with other characters that can all be described as "Bad Love" but neither compared to the profound love he shared with Horatio. This bond was proved to be Hamlet's strongest bond of all. While the emotions and loyalty of every other relationship were constantly changing, the friendship and loyalty between Hamlet and Horatio remained constant and unchanged.
 Hamlet would have never known of his father's ghost had Horatio not told him. Other characters, such as Marcellus,  may have shied away or advised him against meeting with the ghost. Horatio recognized the ghost of King Hamlet for who he was and encouraged the meeting. It is with his father's ghost that Hamlet learned his father's murderer was indeed his Uncle Claudius. Hamlet devised a plan to murder Claudius and only trusted Horatio with this plan.
 Hamlet's trust of Horatio was also proven when Hamlet was on the pirate ship. He had equal access to Ophelia, his girlfriend and Gertrude, his mother but he only wrote a letter to Horatio confiding in him the full scope of his situation. Including Horatio in his plans to kill his uncle made Horatio just as guilty and if found out, equally punishable. Understanding this, Horatio still agrees to help his friend, again proving his loyalty, love and respect.
 Horatio's true test of love and loyalty was in Hamlet's death. Knowing the consequences of Claudius' death, Hamlet decided to also kill himself. Before he drank the poison, he asked Horatio to separate himself from his death long enough to tell his story. As hard as this was, Horatio agreed. True to his word, after Hamlet's death Horatio kept his promise by informing everyone of the circumstances surrounding Hamlet's death. Hamlet received a proper burial with honors as he well deserved.
 There was no other relationship of loyalty, truth and trust as Hamlet's and Horatio's. Claudius killed his father; Gertrude married her deceased husband's brother out of selfishness; Ophelia was King Hamlet's concubine. These relationships all represented deceit and lies. Throughout the play, Hamlet questioned and tested the loyalty of every character except Horatio. While the emotions and loyalty of every other relationship were constantly changing, the friendship and loyalty between Hamlet and Horatio remained constant and unchanged.