Four centuries divide the composition of the texts in this elective. With close reference to the texts suggest reasons for the continued popularity of both plays.
             Reasons for the continued popularity of "Hamlet the Prince of Denmark" by William Shakespeare and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard are the characters that both plays have, the language and humour used by both playwrights and the audiences they cater for.
             "Hamlet the Prince of Denmark:" or "Hamlet" by famous playwright William Shakespeare was first performed in 1601. "Hamlet is about corruption, incest, murder and revenge. It is a revenge tragedy. Hamlet is the protagonist of the play; he is the revengeful character. Claudius, Uncle of Hamlet is King of Denmark; he married Hamlet's mother Gertrude after killing of the King of Denmark, Hamlet's father and Gertrude's husband. "Murder most foul, as in the best it is,But this most foul, strange and unnatural." Hamlet is considered mad throughout the play and two minor characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are summoned to Elsinor by Claudius to find the means of Hamlet's madness. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends of Hamlet from University. These two characters are people who need to be given orders to fulfill their existence, but in Hamlet the action Claudius has assigned is to big for them. They give themselves away. "There is a kind of confession in you looks which your modesties have not had enough colour." Hirelings, they end up being destroyed by a plot within a plot of which they have no understanding and over which they have no control. Hamlet warns them off but they are either too greedy, "Your visitation shall receive such thanks/As fits a King's remembrance and
             "Rosencrantz – Take you me for a sponge my lord?
             Hamlet – Ay sir, that soaks up the King's countenance, his...