The Complexity of Life and Death in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead"

662 Words2 Pages

The main theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead is the complexity of life, death, and the events that lead to it. It also depicts the theory of determinism vs. free will. These are very similar to the themes seen in Hamlet.

There is a complementary structure between Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead and Hamlet in the sense that, they are written in different time periods and show different understanding on the subject at hand. In 1602, the time when Hamlet was written, people believed in church and that dead would go to heaven or hell based on their deeds , but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead was written in 1960’s a time of existentialism, when existence of god and essence of life were questioned. Moreover Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead is like the missing part of Hamlet, it contains all the scenes that occurred in the backstage of Hamlet.

There are also parallel structures between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. The both plays seem to be pondering the idea of morals of life and death. Hamlet contemplates ...

Open Document