Throughout the texts of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead the responder can view a variety of values that have been utilised or ignored in order to expand onto the context of the playwrights. Values can be defined as "the significance with reference to worth either tangible or intangible" as cited in The Macquarie Handy Dictionary (1991.) With regard to Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead the values to be analysed are of duty, loyalty to friends or family and life and life and death, which will be studied through analysis of the contexts of Shakespeare and Stoppard and study of themes common to both texts.
             Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead are central to the theme of fate and destiny; whereby Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are constantly questioning their role and purpose in life and the play raised through the context of Stoppard in regard to existentialism. The duties of characters from Hamlet are clear to the responder whereby many of the focus characters have roles in the play that are clearly outlined, where Hamlet believes his sole role is to avenge his father's death. Claudius, even though ambitious has the role of taking over the kingdom left by his brother and to eradicate his nemesis, Hamlet and after the death of his father, Laertes utilises the same role as Hamlet as to avenge his father's death. During the time of Shakespeare, the Renaissance; the value of duty was considered of high regard and importance where religious and social conflict had interfered with many aspects of duty. This is highlighted through Hamlet choosing not to murder Claudius as he was praying and did not wish for him to attain the Kingdom of God. However, the theme of fate and destiny also alludes to the context given to Hamlet whereby it seems that he has a sense of control over his life and actions, which is an illusion undertaken by S...