Who Are Rosencrantz And Guildernstern???
First performed in 1603, Hamlet is probably the best known of William Shakespeare's works, and may well be the most famous English language play ever written. But while Hamlet has been the subject of critical analysis since Elizabethan times, the 1960's saw Tom Stoppard bring Hamlet back to life with "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead". Using Shakespeare's work as his own starting point, he makes the two minor characters from the title who were off-stage, become on-stage.
"All the world's a stage..." William Shakespeare.
The transformation between these two texts is fascinating, as the past 350 years has had an incredible effect upon the English language and the ever transforming contexts of the times.
So, let's make a stereotypical conclusion about the Elizabethans. They lived life in a hierarchical system, dominated by monarchs, priests to the wealthier citizens, right down to animals, plants and the basic elements. This is shown through Hamlet, as many of the protagonists are monarchs or high ranking members of their country's nobility. Act 2, scene 1 of Hamlet, we see Reynaldo, a servant to Polonius, demonstrating this hierarchical system through his conversation.
Polonius: Observe his inclination in yourself.
Reynaldo: I shall, my lord.
Over the past few hundred years, playwrights have expressed more interest the common man. In comparison to Tom Stoppard's composition, the contexts from which the two pieces were written begin to emerge.
Ros: Position?
Player: Sir? (scene 1, p23-24)
During Hamlet's procrastination, his unwillingness to commit suicide or take revenge upon Claudius demonstrates the strong Christian beliefs of the time. The revenge itself was on one occasion, delayed by Hamlet because Claudius was praying. Although Christianity is still an importance to many people of today, it is not nearly as dominan...