Values- Hamlet and R&G
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
Stoppard acknowledges Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in a different light to that of Shakespeare's Hamlet where they are not viewed as deceptive, manipulative individuals but as pawns controlled by a larger force. Through Stoppard's context in the sixties life and death was constantly questioned with the aid of existentialism as shown through the transformation of Hamlet's infamous "To be or not to be" soliloquy to a variety of analogies. Whereas Stoppard questions duty through the context of existentialism where there is no point of committing and undertaking one's duty as fate is predetermined by a force larger than oneself. Hamlet believes that his sense of duty was solely controlled by himself which is evident to the responder as Hamlet chose not to murder Claudius whilst he was praying and he chose to duel with Laertes, where in reality Hamlet was controlled by forces much larger than himself; where supernatural forces and beliefs were also considered of high importance as shown through the appearance of Hamlet's father's ghost who gave Hamlet the reasoning for vengeance. As values such as duty, loyalty to family and friends and life and death had provided great basis for analysis for particular themes and values, though interpreted differently through alternate contexts and writers had highlighted the significance for certain values. 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. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet also display much self-interest and disloyalty through acting as messengers of Claudius in order to uncover the reason for Hamlet's madness, it is knowledgeable that through such disloyalty was not only portrayed through these characters but also of Ophelia misleading Hamlet into believing their love for one another and Polonius continually attempting to deceive Hamlet by also striving to discover his descent into madness. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from the play Hamlet play a significant role as they are to delve into Hamlet's mind and discover the reasoning for his sudden descent to madness, which after they are to report back to Claudius with their findings. The loyalty Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have for one another is easily demonstrated through the coin tossing where after Guildenstern carries on with his losing streak Rosencrantz becomes more sincere to his friends loss. Death was in constant question where it is highlighted through the infamous "To be or not to be" soliloquy in which Hamlet contemplates life and death where his life was surrounded by many dilemmas including his procrastination and readiness in avenging his father's death, his mother's incestuous marriage the failing relationships with those surrounding; to that of peace as known of through death. The loyalty for one another is also exemplified through the knowledge that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are to take Hamlet to his death; after realising their participation in this immoral act both ponder on the fact that they are friends of Hamlet and the unfairness that they are to send Hamlet to his death. The value of loyalty to friends and family carries onto the theme of self-interest, where both plays demonstrate similarities as both plays contain characters driven by ambition in order to attain their personal goals. 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. Particular characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet exemplify much self-interest and disloyalty to those surrounding as shown through, Claudius murdering his brother in order to takeover the kingdom which was than ensured by marrying his widow, Gertude.
Common topics in this essay:
Rosencrantz Guildenstern,
Guildenstern Dead,
Guildenstern Hamlet,
Whereas Stoppard,
Shakespeare Hamlet,
Shakespeare's Hamlet,
Lord's Prayer,
rosencrantz guildenstern,
Act Stoppard's,
Shakespeare Renaissance,
Gertude Gertude,
life death,
rosencrantz guildenstern dead,
guildenstern dead,
father's death,
shakespeare's hamlet,
theme fate destiny,
stoppard's rosencrantz,
fate destiny,
value duty,
theme self-interest,
theme fate,
stoppard's rosencrantz guildenstern,
hamlet rosencrantz guildenstern,
loyalty friends family,
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Acceptance Essays
