Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, published in 1966, was Tom Stoppard’s second play to write, and was one of the biggest hits out of all he wrote. The play was based off the play Hamlet. In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Rosencrantz struggles with the vagueness of reality and how unavoidable death is through his journey in finding and taking Hamlet and the letter to England. During his journey, Rosencrantz is conflicted by not knowing or having control over his fate.
While Rosencrantz is on a boat heading to England with Hamlet, he is worried about what is going to happen once he gets there. “But we’ve got nothing to go on, we’re out on our own.” “We won’t know what to do when we get there.” (Act 3, pg. 104). Rosencrantz …show more content…
All Rosencrantz knows is that he is supposed to go to England and deliver the letter so that he can fulfil his duties. This is the goal of his journey and he doesn’t know if he can complete it. He is very worried and the uncertainty causes him some anxiety. Rosencrantz is very unclear on his instructions and uncertain about what will happen to him. After his worrying, Guildenstern decides that it would be best to act out a possible scenario. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern act out how the exchange between the King might go, and they read the letter meant for the King. “, that on the reading of this letter, without delay, I should have Hamlet’s head cut off-!” (act 3, pg. 109) After reading the letter, Rosencrantz is surprised at the turn of events. When ordered to take Hamlet to England, Rosencrantz never suspected that he would be sending his friend to death. The surprise of this causes Rosencrantz some grief, because he has just …show more content…
Rosencrantz is talking with the Player waiting for the play that Hamlet wants preformed to start. They are bored and don’t want the payer to leave. “We have been left so much to our own devices- after a while one welcomes the uncertainty of being left to other people’s.” (Act 2, pg. 66). Guildenstern is saying that they have been alone and uninformed that they have gotten used to the vagueness of reality and what is going to happen. He doesn’t like being uncertain and is saying that it has caused many problems for him and his friend, Rosencrantz. The player goes on to say “Uncertainty is the normal state. You’re nobody special.” “Relax. Respond. That’s what people do. You can’t go through life questioning your situation at every turn.” (Act 2, pg. 66). The Player is trying to tell them to calm down and enjoy their life. They worry too much about what is unsaid or undecided that they don’t focus on what is right in front of them. The player seems to understand his surroundings and is calmed by it, but they are so focused on the undecided future that they don’t understand or realize what is happening right in front of them. When Rosencrantz’s boat is attacked by pirates, Hamlet escapes and goes back to his home to find Claudius. At this point, it seems as though he has escaped his death sentence. Hamlet then returns home and finds Claudius. We find out that they have