About Hamlet?

Question

Why has Horatio been asked to keep watch with the guards? Act one, Scene one

Answer 1

"Shortly thereafter, Bernardo is joined by Marcellus, another watchman, and Horatio, a friend of Prince Hamlet. Bernardo and Marcellus have urged Horatio to stand watch with them, because they believe they have something shocking to show him. In hushed tones, the they discuss the apparition they have seen for the past two nights, and which they now hope to show Horatio: the ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet, which they claim has appeared before them on the castle ramparts in the late hours of the night."

Answer 2

Basically, because the guards know that nobody would believe an outlandish ghost story, coming from them.

Horatio is a respected scholar, and would be a credible witness. What's more, he's a good friend of Hamlet's; the guards know that, after Horatio sees the ghost, HE'LL be able to tell Hamlet about it.

Answer 3

The guards recognize Horatio as a scholar and, therefore, more capable of testing and discerning whether the Ghost is really Old King Hamlet, or a malicious demon. If it is just a malicious demon, it could put Hamlet's sanity and soul in jeopardy if he encounters it (which it does anyway, go figure), so they send Horatio in to find out first.

Answer 4

actually, since horatio is best friends with hamlet, they need horatio to see the ghost so that he will tell hamlet about it. hamlet is more likely to believe his best friend about the ghost than the watchmen.