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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two school mates of the prince Hamlet. They appear in the play as two young guys from Wittenberg, the courtiers of the Danish King. In the beginning of the story these two friends appear as loyal servants of the King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, who recruit Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out the reasons of prince Hamlets misery, depression and strange behavior. But soon it becomes clear that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern used to be very loyal and close friends of the prince Hamlet. That is why they can be perfect spies for the King, who is in big contradiction with Hamlet.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are even promised to get a reward for their efforts. Having encountered with Hamlet, they try to calm him down and play on his sincerity in order to probe his intentions. Somehow the prince gets suspicious and understands that his old friends were sent by the King and betrayed him. He wants them to diminish his suspicions and tells them openly, that they could be sent by the King. And the young people hesitate a lot before opening the truth to him. Hamlet starts thinking of them as of his enemies, but still tries to keep tolerant disposition towards them.
Obviously, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do not believe that the prince Hamlet is seethed with madness. But they can not find anything better, than to report to their King about probable insanity of Hamlet, because during their mission they could not manage to obtain any information about his future plans. After this, they are back to Hamlet to tell him, how much the King and the Queen were disappointed with weird behavior of the prince. Hamlet tells them not to manipulate him with their own interests.
The second time Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear in the play when the King Claudius gives them another mission: to guard and deliver the rebellious prince to England. Moreover, they carry the letter of the King, which requires execution of Hamlet. In these scenes mutual hate between Hamlet and his former friends is increasing, and Hamlet does not show concern and care towards two betrayers anymore. Finally, Hamlet learns about the letter and dire order, which was in the letter. He decides to send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to death instead of himself. Secretly he exchanges the letter with a fraudulent one, and imitates the seal of the King.
He does not feel any remorse or sympathy towards his former friends, because now he takes them as a part of that amoral society, which was formed in the Court. Having them sent to the British Isles to find their death, the prince returns home to continue his fight. It is up to every particular reader to understand, who these two guys actually are in the play. For a long time specialists on Shakespeare's literature have been arguing on this point. Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern two dark angels, who betrayed their best friend of childhood and trade their friendship for some award and recognition?
Or are they just two loyal servants of their King, who could sacrifice everything for the sake of their ruler? The clear thing is that the author of the play gives us neither direct answer, nor hints about his own imagination about the role of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Personally I believe that these two people are more likely to be the victims of circumstances, when the interests of their best friend and the powerful ruler got confronted. But, undoubtedly, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were too much weak and coward, so they could not solve the situation with dignity. Moreover, I guess that the symbolism and function of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the play is in their betrayal of the prince. They give him a sign about existing conspiracy in the Court and make him understand that people are being manipulated by the King and the Queen.
They represent to Hamlet deep corruption and the loss of major human values in the whole society of the Court. This corruption was, probably, one of the reasons of such tragic ending in this brilliant play.
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Research essay sample on Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Prince Hamlet
