eatenturner

In the world of drama, the issue of similarity whereby one play draws inspiration from another is a common practice. The similarity can be in terms of characters or themes that are expressed in a play or a poem. One can draw inspiration by writing a sequel to a particular play or drama with regard to the issues that are expressed in the former. An example is the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. In this paper, I compare and contrast the two plays in terms of themes, characters, and the general plot in which the two plays are set.

One of the outstanding similarities between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is that the two plays explore the issues of appearance and reality and the themes of destiny and fate. The playwrights used a number of techniques that were closely related to the particular media to pass across the message of the misconception that dominates the normal human life. Both plays explore the attitude and perception of their writers with regard to the main theme of transformation, which helps to bring about the differences that exist between deceptive characters as well as the self-deception that illuminates the human life.

 With regard to the time of writing of the plays, Hamlet characteristically exhibits the life practice and events that were taking place during the Elizabethan era. This period is characterized by a structural form of life and a classy way of life. On the other hand, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is a modern play with tragicomedy themes, which are closely related to the era in which the play is written. As such, the play displays freedom and openness that is not found in Hamlet, and thus uses a philosophical approach to explore different themes (Brown 23).

The two plays dwell on the themes of life and death. The themes are contrasted with a transition that displays normal human life. While Stoppard’s starts his play with a rhetorical question concerning life, Shakespeare begins Hamlet with the death of the figure of a father and forms the basis of the other themes. Among the outstanding themes in the two plays are the absurdity and impossibility of human life. In Stoppard’s play, the world is presented as a random sphere as expressed through the tossing of a coin in which the coin turns 92 times in a raw as heads. Given the laws of probability, this kind of turns is almost impossible, yet this is what happens in the play. The impression created is that the impossible can be turned into possible with the absurdity that exists in the world.

 The fact of absurdity represents typical human life where actions are based on the absurdity of life itself. Hamlet also explores the same theme of absurdity, but in a different approach. This is achieved through the postponement of what is expected by the audience while trying to come up with more certain knowledge about the next action. Thus, Hamlet presents a number of introspection scenes, such as being possible for more knowledge about the supernatural to be gained. It also enquires about the certainty of the actual human actions like the truth about the incidences that do not have a direct witness as well as the facts that permeate the human life. The play also explores the possibility or impossibility of knowing the consequences of human life. Both plays thus explore a similar theme of absurdity/impossibility of human life while using different scenes and characters as well as actions (Mattern 19).

 The two plays also investigate the way people make decisions in their lives. While Hamlet dwells on the theme of action and the way people can make purposeful and effective decisions, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead explores the process of making choices which will impact the life of a decision maker. Thus, it advocates for making decisions at random and not based on calculated steps and carefulness and not to insist on taking control of one’s destiny. In Hamlet, actions must be founded on rational views, ethical, and emotional factors. The control of mind is also an important element in making decisions that are certain and precise. This kind of dilemma in actions and decisions is expressed in different scenes in the two plays. For instance, in Stoppard’s play, the indecisiveness of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern over the fate of Hamlet leads to their deaths. In Hamlet, the main character is unsure of the actions that he must take to revenge his father even though he has already decided that revenge is inevitable (Hunter 56).

 The two plays differ in that Hamlet takes place in Elizabethan era, which is characterized by structured governance through the monarch and class system. On the other hand, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Death is a contemporary play of the 20th century characterized by self-consciousness. The style of presentation in Hamlet is that of a poem where sentences rhyme systematically to reveal a hidden meaning, while in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, a rhetorical approach in terms of approach dominates the play. The use of motifs and syllogisms is also common in the two plays. The use of syllogism in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is evident even as the play begins when a coin is tossed. This form of interpretation of events is thus distributed throughout the play. However, in Hamlet, symbols and syllogisms are rarely used throughout the text meaning that the interpretation of the play is depended upon the understanding of the audience.

 One can successfully argue that the writer of the play did not have any pre-conceived meaning to the scenes in the play, which then leaves the applicability of the play to variety of audiences. However, the time setting of the two plays presents a division in the perception and conceptualization of what really defines human life. For example, even though life in Hamlet is full of uncertainties, taking a full control of one’s destiny is the only way of overcoming such uncertainties. In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, indecision is a part of life even though it is tragic to take that stance (Brown 29).

Hamlet also presents a connected plot that includes the welfare of the royal family and the well-being of the nation as a whole. These ideas are first expressed through the sense of anxiety and fear, which dominates the imminent transfer of power to an individual from another. The play also focuses on the moral legitimacy of rulers and the well-being of the state indicating that the two are very much connected. In order to highlight the connection between the two, Hamlet employs the use of motifs and analogy to expound on the ideas presented. For instance, Denmark is presented as a body full of illnesses caused by the moral decay of Gertrude and Claudius, and the ghost represents the rot in the state. Stoppard’s play, on the other hand, is focused on surreal and realities of life where it is evident that there is conflict between the two.

While Stoppard’s play is inspired by the themes from Hamlet, the main characters and the scenes in which the plays are set differ in exposition and analysis. The conception of what constitutes a revengeful life is also a point of divergence, as one advocates for revenge, while the other insists on thoughtfulness and cautiousness in taking any step. This includes revenge which highly dominates the themes in Hamlet. Hamlet also presents death as something dreadful, which borders on the uncertainty of life. In Stoppard’s play, death is presented as a normal transition that needs to be taken with certainty and courage. This is the reason Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not afraid of the consequences of not obeying the instructions contained in the letter that is given to them (Lennard 27).

 In exploring the two plays, it is evident that one is a sequel of the other or rather the inspiration of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is drawn from the themes discussed in Hamlet. This is a common practice in playwriting. It helps to build on the ideas that are expressed in the former play. The exploration of the themes of life and death is an indication that the writers of the two plays were concerned with the most serious challenge that faces human beings. In spite of the steps made in the advancement of human life as exemplified in the modern science and technology, the issue of life and death still presents a huge mystery to humanity. It is around the same theme that all other themes develop. The themes include actions and decision making, certainty and rationality, which all define the everyday life of people. The exposition of these themes in the two plays means that human activities and decisions as well as behaviors are intertwined in the ultimate fate of human life, that of uncertainty about the future of human life.

About the author: Eaten Turner is a bachelor in English literature at philology California University. He is currently working as one of the leading writers at the EssaysWriters.com Eaten also studies women's psychology and health care.