Summary
Ara H. Yernjakyan
Key words – Shakespeare, Horatio, Horace, Maecenas, Brutus, Hamlet, Stoicism.
Comparing basic moments of life of ancient Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, his work, outlook at life, they are surprisingly common with the character of classmate and friend of Hamlet – Horatio.
They both received good education, both gravitated towards the philosophy of Stoicism, both lived discreetly. Severe trials befallen on the Roman poet did not forge a fighter out of him. To a certain extent, this also concerns Horatio.
In addition to these and other facts, one can review the famous characteristics given by Hamlet to his friend on the eve of the palace play as a kind of hint by the playwright in choosing the poet Horace as the prototype of Horatio.