Heartwarming moments in Hamlet.
- The part in Act III, scene ii, when Hamlet expresses just how much Horatio means to him.Hamlet:
Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,
As I do thee. - In the Kenneth Branagh version, Claudius has a white-hot anger rant after he finds out about Polonius's death. Just when he seems beyond the point of no return as far as rage and madness goes, he suddenly collapses into Gertrude's arms like a child seeking protection. It's a truly vulnerable, human moment of real fear and love in sharp contrast with the "villain" he's supposed to be.
- Hamlet's immediate reaction to his childhood jester being dead is to eulogize him on the spot:"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that."''
- Laertes loves his sister enough that he cannot even conceive a scenario in which she killed herself, and sincerely believes that Ophelia will be "a ministering angel". He also openly disrespects a priest who claims Ophelia won't be saved. There are no words for how big of a no-no that was at the time.
- Some productions build on the brother-sister relationship of Laertes and Ophelia through body language and Facial Dialogue. At least one regional production has them exchange lovingly exasperated looks when Polonius is lecturing them, rolling their eyes and holding back laughter when they realize their father still isn't done. These moments make their relationship as siblings feel much more real and personal.
- Horatio comforts Hamlet as the latter dies, saying the iconic Good Night, Sweet Prince line and in some performances have Horatio lay Hamlet's head in his lap.
