Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Author: Tom Stoppard

Setting: Nowhere and Denmark

Plot: The play starts with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on an empty stage flipping a coin. After flipping the coin several times and getting only heads as a result, Guil ponders this strange unlikely probability, while Ros ignores it. This strange coin phenomena leads Guil to wonder about their location and how Ros and Guil got to where they currently are, and why they are there, and what their purpose is. Soon, they are approached by a band of players who call themselves the Tragedians. After suggesting their true trade to Ros and Guil, they ask if Ros and Guil would be interested in partaking in a sexual en devour. Of course, since Ros is a bit slower, he is confused about this offer, until Guil decides to take up a bet with the players. Guil wins, and then the scene suddenly changes. 

Ros and Guil now find themselves in Denmark in the castle. Hamlet and Ophelia enter arguing and then leave. Then Claudius approaches Ros and Guil and ask them to find out what is troubling Hamlet. While asking the two for their help, the king mistakes Ros for Guil. 

Then Ros and Guil start a game of questions, a game commonly played in theater. They attempt to reenact a scenario in which Guil pretends to be Hamlet, and Ros questions him about his state of mind. They finally deduce the reason behind Hamlet's madness, which is his father was murdered by his uncle, who then took his spot on the throne. After this revelation, they ponder how they can help Hamlet in his state of madness or is Hamlet is really mad at all. 

The players arrive at the castle and announce that there will be a play the next day. There is then discussion about the play, and how Hamlet wants everyone in the castle to attend the play. Afterwards, Hamlet and Ophelia have their argument about Ophelia going to a nunnery. 

The stage blacks out. It is the next day, and the King ask for Ros and Guil's help in finding Hamlet, because he just killed Polonius. The scene changes again, and Ros and Guil are bringing Hamlet to England under the King's orders. They find themselves on a boat, confused as before. They are uncertain of why they are on a boat and why they must escort Hamlet away. They quickly remember, and find out that Hamlet is to be killed in England and it is one of the King's devilish plots. Later, while Ros and Guil are sleeping, Hamlet switches the letters to order that Ros and Guil are instead killed. 

Hamlet escapes, leaving Ros and Guil on the boat with the players. The players kill Ros and Guil on the boat. 

The last scene is back at the castle where everyone is dead. Horatio closes the play with the last speech of Hamlet. 

Significant Characters:

Rosencrantz-- Best friends with Guildenstern. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed, and is generally more carefree than Guil. He is a happy-go-lucky fellow that is easily confused, and enjoys flipping coins and calling "heads." Other than Guil, his other friend in the story is Hamlet... supposedly. 

Guildenstern--  Best friends with Rosencrantz. Guil often pretends to know more than he does and tries to sound smarter than he actually is. He is always contemplating his situation and his life and trying to find out his purpose. He is more aware than Ros is, but is a little slow as well. He likes to think he has more control over his life than he does. 

Player --  Leader of the band of traveling players. He seems to be more aware of the plot of Hamlet and understands fate more than Ros and Guil. He is witty and confident, but selfish as well, as evident in the fact that he was willing to give up Alfred for money. 

Narrative Tone/Style:

The narrative style is told from an outside point of view so we can see different characters at different times. By doing this, we as the audience can get a better idea of each characters’ intentions and motives since we know what they are really thinking and don’t have to rely on a narrator. Unlike Hamlet, the tone of this play is more lighthearted, despite the audience knowing the inevitable fate of Ros and Guil. 

 

Theme: The theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is that we are just parts of a bigger story, but we all are important. Although Ros and Guil are just used to move the plot along in Hamlet, we see in Stoppard's play that they do have separate important roles. 

Quotes: "Audiences know what to expect, and that is all they are prepared to believe in." This quote revolves around the idea of fate and that everything is predestined. Viewers of this play know what will inevitably happen to Ros and Guil, even though they really have done nothing wrong. Stoppard's play makes the audience sympathize with Ros and Guil, because they were friendly people who were just confused and doing what they were told to do the whole time. This elaborates on how was ultimately have no control over our lives. 

“Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance at least. You could lie there thinking: Well, at least I'm not dead.” This quote shows how we should all be appreciative of our lives. Although Hamlet's life sucked a lot, this quote is telling him to look at the things he does have, and focus on those, instead of running around trying to make his life go back to the way he envisioned it.