Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Author: Tom Stoppard

Characters:

Rosencrantz: He is a character who never questions anything, and just accepts what he sees. However, he has a deep fear of death and wants to find out what is wrong with Hamlet. He gets confused a lot of the time, but never tries very hard to sort anything out.

Guildenstern: He also wants to find out what is wrong with Hamlet, but he also seeks to discover his purpose in the world. He is sure he can figure it out, even though the audience sees he never will because he forgets everything almost instantly and is attempting logic in an illogical world.

Player King: He is the leader of the players, and is the only one of them who speaks. It becomes clear later that he is the person in charge of the play and knows everything that is going on during the time Ros and Guil are within the play of Hamlet. This is because the players are putting on the play with Ros and Guil participating in it unwillingly.

Summary:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wander through a place with no apparent setting, flipping coins that come up heads every time. Rosencrantz keeps winning the coins and seems untroubled by this strange occourance, while Guildenstern tries helplessly to explain how this could happen. He, however cannot use logic very well and he thinks of the most improbable explanations first. They both wonder why they are here and suddenly remember a messenger. They encounter a group of Tragedians. The Player King suggests a sexually intimate performance, which takes a long time for Rosencrantz to realize. Guildenstern, knowing the coin will always be heads, uses this against the Player King, who looses the bet and cannot pay. Guildenstern asks them to pay with a play, and Rosencrantz soon after announces the last coin he flipped was heads.

The scenery suddenly changes, and Rosencrantz find themmselves in the middle of some action in Hamlet. Hamlet and Ophelia are rushing about suspiciously before Claudius runs into the pair, mixes up their names, and tells them to find out what's up with Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk about what they should ask Hamlet, but Rosencrantz doesn't understand when Guildenstern wants to pretend to be Hamlet in order to practice questioning. However, they realize that Hamlet is upset over his father. When they question Hamlet, he confuses them, so they unsure over his sanity. The players arrive for the play Hamlet wants to put on, and after Ros and Guil talk about death, they tell Claudius Gertrude Polonius and Ophelia about the play. They overhear Hamlet and Ophelia scene.

The Tragedians perform a play that paralells the recent events that happened before the opening of Hamlet. The Player King explains the tragedy, and Ros and Guil wonder if death can be represented in a play. Hamlet kills Polonius that night, so Claudius is wondering where Hamlet is the next day. Ros and Guil think of a stupid plan with their belts to catch Hamlet, but it fails miserably. Hamlet escapes and accuses them of being pawns for Claudius. Hamlet is caught by guards later and Ros and Guil are told they must take Hamlet to England. They reluctantly agree.

On the boat to England, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wonder where they are and whether they might be dead. They notice Hamlet sleeping and remember why they are here. They read the letter to the king of England and find out that Hamlet will be executed. While they are sleeping, Hamlet switches the letter with a fake. The tragedians emerge out of some large barrels, and pirates come shortly after. They all jump into the barrels, but Hamlet is gone when they come out again. Ros and Guil tell the Player King about the letter and what they will say to the King. However, they discover the new letter tells the king to execute them. Guil is sorrowful about death, and angry at the Player King for attempting to fake it. He stabs the Player King, who appears to be dead, but he pops up alive to Ros and Guil's surprise. The knife was only a stage knife. The Tragedians then perform many deaths and the focus shifts to only Ros and Guil. Ros breaks down, realizing he will die, while Guil is upset that they couldn't avoid their fate. They both just exit, instead of having dramatic deaths. The scene changes to Hamlet, and the final lines of the play are delivered.

Imagery: Little figurative language or imagery. Not a play with lots of detail either. Only small tidbits for the audience to figure out the meaning below the surface of the play. Motifs: Coin flipping shows how world is illogical and how fate is already set.

Forgetfulness: absurdist quality, shows how helpless the characters are in their world.

Wind Direction: knowing about it means control. 

Death: shows how some fates are unavoidable.

Hamlet: represents Shakespeare's ideas and influence
Theme: Writers will never be able to escape Shakespeare's influence.
Quotes: