Rosencrantz & Guildenstern

In literature, minor characters are constantly used to shed a brighter light on the storylines surrounding them. In the case of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, both Stoppard and Shakespeare use them to stimulate the plot and enhance the understanding of their pieces. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do this by being the catalysts that move the plot, providing additional perspective to protagonists so that the reader more fully understands the author’s message.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are both actively used throughout the pieces Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Hamlet as tools which are used to boost the understanding of their similar storylines and enhance the perspectives of the major characters. In both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Hamlet, King Claudius summons both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Wittenberg so that they can learn the reasons for Hamlet’s strange behavior (Stoppard/Shakespeare). In doing so, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern provide the King with little information of Hamlet’s insanity and forces Claudius to conclude that the death of Hamlet is imperative to his success as King (Stoppard/Shakespeare). In this situation, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are a medium that provide a deeper insight for Claudius into Hamlet’s character; however, this only adds to Hamlet’s faÐ"§ade of insanity by providing another source that can only help Claudius conclude that Hamlet has gone mad. This equal act of manipulation by both Claudius and Hamlet allows the rivals to have a greater understanding into each other’s character; a conclusion that could not be made without the medium of information that is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Therefore, the correlation is made that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the tools that provided a greater perspective into the thoughts of the protagonists.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are essential to the comprehension of their author’s literary messages. Tom Stoppard’s piece, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, is understood as an interpretation that is used to criticize or question the value Hamlet. Stoppard conveys this message through the weakness of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reduce themselves to conscienceless pawns of the King, by disconcerting the fate of themselves and their friend Hamlet and the order for him to be killed (Stoppard). In this process they also reveal the plans to Hamlet, who in turn changes the messages so that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are targeted for execution (Stoppard). These actions are exaggerated from Hamlet by Stoppard to show the idea that no two real people could be so definitively pawn-like that they would not care for their own well being and that it may be in jeopardy. These ridiculous and unrealistic traits manifest themselves into characters that are absurd in contrast to Hamlet as a whole. Stoppard uses this as his message to question whether or not Hamlet should be considered such an iconic piece, while such an absurdity is prevalent. Although the messages are different, Shakespeare also uses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as conveyors for his own themes. Shakespeare uses them to illuminate his message of appearance vs. reality. Throughout Hamlet, the sole purpose of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is to serve the King, while they try to deceive Hamlet that they are serving him. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern create the pretense that they are concerned for the well being of Hamlet, where in reality, they are trying to discover the nature of Hamlet’s behaviour for the King (Shakespeare). This trend continues