Analysis Of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead

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Recommended: Distinguish between tragedy and comedy

During the time of Shakespeare, the line was clearly drawn in drama between comedy and tragedy: not that he didn 't occasionally mix the elements or write a play which defied either category. However, modern plays and movies do not adhere to obvious tragedies or comedies any longer. In an existentialist play by Tom Stoppard, the fundamental questions of Hamlet are explored in a comedic yet tragic drama, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, both following and breaking many fundamental structures in drama, as well as constantly toying with the dramatic fourth wall. In many ways, the structure of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead appears disjointed, while in reality, its sometimes sudden or disjoint nature is used masterfully and fluently
The characters, speaking to each other, even say, "Words. All we have to go on is words. Words!" in reference to attempting to figure out where, why, and who they are after meeting briefly with the King and Queen, their own "lines" coming instinctually even though they have little clue what 's going on. The most obvious and witty reference to this dialogue, language, questions, and battling with words is when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern engage in a battle of questions, which they may only answer with questions that are not "rhetoric" or repeated. They do this upon the scene of a tennis court and stride back and forth as though serving or hitting a ball, which exists only in the mind. However, throughout the play, the two of them engage in rapid fire discourse—interrupting, completing thoughts, and continually bouncing off each other. On the other hand, this same discourse is used to demonstrate confusion and disorientation as especially Rosencrantz becomes consistently confused. This discourse battle carries over into speaking with Hamlet as well as with the actors themselves. Near the end of the play, Guildenstern demands of the head actor that he wants and deserves answers, after having gone through the entire play and journey utterly confused, also faced with his own eminent death. The rapid fire speech helps drive the entire story while simultaneously structurally underlining important points and messages. It also guarantees that the audience must pay close attention in order to catch the words and discussion of the characters and understand their meaning (and possibly

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