Horatio and Laertes as protagonists in Hamlet Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare is a play about a man's revenge for the murder of his father and all the resulting tragedy. The show takes us through the emotions and doubts that Prince Hamlet finds within himself after speaking with the supposed ghost of his father, the former king of Denmark. Through Hamlet we meet Horatio, Hamlet's friend and fellow student. By reading [ref] the conversations between Hamlet and Horatio, it becomes clear how Hamlet feels about the murder of his father and his plans to avenge this murder. We also meet Laertes, son of Polonius and sister of Ophelia. Through his interactions with Laertes we see another side of Hamlet. The similarities and differences between them help to showcase more of Hamlet's personality and feelings about revenge. Through both Horatio and Laertes we see not only Hamlet's plan for revenge, but also some of his feelings of doubt and confusion between what he thought he wanted and what he was actually capable of. feelings and thoughts of the protagonist. This happens not only through the dialogue between the two characters, but also through their similarities and differences. As a foil, Horatio can be seen as a window into what Hamlet feels and does. Horatio is one of the first to see King Hamlet's ghost and also informs him of this sighting. This is something they have in common because not all characters can see the ghost. The queen, for example, couldn't see him talking to Hamlet in his... middle of paper...trying to do away with Hamlet right from the start. The only thing that slows him down is that Claudius wants the right time and the right place to not only make sure Hamlet is dead but also to save him from any repercussions that might come from Hamlet. Through various minor characters, the true feelings and personality of the protagonist of a novel or play come out. Hamlet's weaknesses, strengths, thoughts, and desires emerged because of his relationships with others. Without Horatio or Laertes the small aspects of Hamlet's personality would not be clear. This is true of every relationship, be it fact or fiction. People, real or fake, need others for themselves. These people for Hamlet are Horatio and Laertes, and without these two essential characters,] the play would be less than great..