Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Hamlet Comparative Study

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Hamlet Comparative Study

Rather than dethroning the idea and concepts of Hamlet, Stoppard has sprung two minor characters from Shakespeare’s text to address issues that were faced in the play, while minimizing the dominance of Shakespearean tradition. The clear alteration between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead are succumbed by the ideas of fate, death and appearance vs. reality; ultimately transforming ones understanding of Shakespeare’s text.

The significant conception of fate and destiny is represented through Hamlet and Ros and Guil are Dead. As opposed to what is conveyed in Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are perceived as victims of fate and destiny. Throughout the play Hamlet willingly makes the choice of persisting with his vengeful scheme. When Hamlet says “to put an antic disposition on…” he is choosing to feign madness and when he accepts Laertes duel challenge, he makes the decision that ultimately leads to his death. On the other hand, in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the two odd characters are victims of fate. They are summoned by the King to Elsinore and are instructed to find the reason for Hamlet’s madness. They are constantly influenced by others and have no direct control over their destiny. During the play, Rosencrantz says “there’s something they’re not telling us…” exemplifying the idea that Ros and Guil had no control over what was happening because they were left in the dark, doomed to be victimised by fate. During the 17th Century, people believed in the Great Chain of Being where everything had its place and everything happened for a reason. In addition, the opening scene where Ros and Guil are tossing coins indicates that the law of probability is not being followed; reiterating the idea that throughout the play they are caught up in a series of improbable and unavoidable events.

The concept of death in Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead are noticeably conflicting. While Shakespeare’s combination of sword fights, suffocation, beheading and poison is melodramatic and significant in Hamlet, the

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