Rosencrantz
Adjectives: optimistic, simple-minded, unsophisticated
Appearance: Rosencrantz is often indistinguishable from Guildenstern. Rosencrantz appears as the more cheerful and childish of the two.
Personality: Rosencrantz is the submissive one in comparison to Guildenstern. Rosencrantz does not bother to think profoundly about situations. Rosencrantz is easily distracted and confused, and does not question much of what he is told. Rosencrantz usually responds to both his name, as well as Guildenstern’s. Rosencrantz values happiness and oftentimes attempts to lift Guildenstern’s spirits. Rosencrantz is mainly concerned about being happy and keeping his close companion happy as well. When he senses that Guildenstern is upset or troubled, Rosencrantz shares his positive perspective on situations with Guildenstern. Although Guildenstern is the more dominant of the pair, Rosencrantz speaks more during situations and treats everything like a game. There are times when Rosencrantz demonstrates hints of intelligence and cleverness. Rosencrantz portrays characteristics of Guildenstern at times. Rosencrantz, however, is the more likeable of the two. Rosencrantz recognizes that Hamlet is their friend, in which reveals his sense of loyalty and sincerity.
Function: Rosencrantz upbeat and dull-witted personality brings comic relief to the play. Rosencrantz lacks seriousness and intelligence, in which brings about a lighter mood to the play. Rosencrantz shining moments of slight intelligence and constant response to both names further accentuates the notion that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are one person.
Quote: “They'll have us hanging about till we're dead. At least. And the weather will change. (Looks up.) The spring can't last for ever.”
Throughout the play, Rosencrantz often predicts their fate but fails to take it into account. Rosencrantz dismisses his very accurate prediction and goes about his day.
Adjectives: optimistic, simple-minded, unsophisticated
Appearance: Rosencrantz is often indistinguishable from Guildenstern. Rosencrantz appears as the more cheerful and childish of the two.
Personality: Rosencrantz is the submissive one in comparison to Guildenstern. Rosencrantz does not bother to think profoundly about situations. Rosencrantz is easily distracted and confused, and does not question much of what he is told. Rosencrantz usually responds to both his name, as well as Guildenstern’s. Rosencrantz values happiness and oftentimes attempts to lift Guildenstern’s spirits. Rosencrantz is mainly concerned about being happy and keeping his close companion happy as well. When he senses that Guildenstern is upset or troubled, Rosencrantz shares his positive perspective on situations with Guildenstern. Although Guildenstern is the more dominant of the pair, Rosencrantz speaks more during situations and treats everything like a game. There are times when Rosencrantz demonstrates hints of intelligence and cleverness. Rosencrantz portrays characteristics of Guildenstern at times. Rosencrantz, however, is the more likeable of the two. Rosencrantz recognizes that Hamlet is their friend, in which reveals his sense of loyalty and sincerity.
Function: Rosencrantz upbeat and dull-witted personality brings comic relief to the play. Rosencrantz lacks seriousness and intelligence, in which brings about a lighter mood to the play. Rosencrantz shining moments of slight intelligence and constant response to both names further accentuates the notion that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are one person.
Quote: “They'll have us hanging about till we're dead. At least. And the weather will change. (Looks up.) The spring can't last for ever.”
Throughout the play, Rosencrantz often predicts their fate but fails to take it into account. Rosencrantz dismisses his very accurate prediction and goes about his day.
Guildenstern
Adjectives: passionate, frustrated, curious
Appearance: Not much is said about Guildenstern’s physical appearance. He and Rosencrantz are meant to represent the everyman, so perhaps that is why any specific descriptions are omitted.
Personality: Out of the two, he is the one that is more concerned with figuring out why things are the way they are. During their improbable coin toss session, Rosencrantz seems more reserved, while Guildenstern is the one listing out all the possible explanations for why the coin is only ending up heads faced up. Moreover, he becomes frustrated with all the commotion and chaos that is taking place around him that he seems to have no control over. He is also very caring at times, demonstrated by the times when he shows genuine concern for Rosencrantz, his other half.
Function: Guildenstern represents the curious part in all of us that strives to understand the world, but to no avail. He also is the more emotional of the two. He almost always speaks out his emotions. This directly contrasts with Rosencrantz, who seems to be indifferent but in actuality has more going on inside his head.
Quote: "We’ve travelled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation."
This quote demonstrates how close to reality Guildenstern approaches towards the end of the play. He begins to realize his limit role in his life, fate and time are the decision-makers for him and they do not care much for him because he is a character “written to die”
Adjectives: passionate, frustrated, curious
Appearance: Not much is said about Guildenstern’s physical appearance. He and Rosencrantz are meant to represent the everyman, so perhaps that is why any specific descriptions are omitted.
Personality: Out of the two, he is the one that is more concerned with figuring out why things are the way they are. During their improbable coin toss session, Rosencrantz seems more reserved, while Guildenstern is the one listing out all the possible explanations for why the coin is only ending up heads faced up. Moreover, he becomes frustrated with all the commotion and chaos that is taking place around him that he seems to have no control over. He is also very caring at times, demonstrated by the times when he shows genuine concern for Rosencrantz, his other half.
Function: Guildenstern represents the curious part in all of us that strives to understand the world, but to no avail. He also is the more emotional of the two. He almost always speaks out his emotions. This directly contrasts with Rosencrantz, who seems to be indifferent but in actuality has more going on inside his head.
Quote: "We’ve travelled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation."
This quote demonstrates how close to reality Guildenstern approaches towards the end of the play. He begins to realize his limit role in his life, fate and time are the decision-makers for him and they do not care much for him because he is a character “written to die”
The Player
Appearance: shabby, shameful, disorderly
Personality: The Player is in character all the time, and takes his role as the lead tragedian very seriously. The Player treats his entire life as if it were a play. The Player lives to perform for an audience and becomes enraged at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they fail to watch him. The Player demonstrates knowledge of the occurrences and displays such knowledge through witty sayings. The Player does not question his life, he simply and idly plays his part. The Player is incredibly dramatic and craves to satisfy the audience. The Player is willing to go to extreme measures to perform, and fails to make a distinction between acting and living.
Function: The Player knows far more about what is happening than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do. The Player is witty and intelligent, and does not reveal his knowledge outright. Much of what the Player says in his witty speeches serve as dramatic irony. The Player argues with Guildenstern’s philosophy and encourages Guildenstern to live life simply. The Player often contradicts Guildenstern and they are quite opposite of each other.
Quote: “They're hardly divisible, sir – well, I can do you blood and love without the rhetoric, and I can do you blood and rhetoric without the love, and I can do you all three concurrent or consecutive, but I can't do you love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory – they're all blood, you see.”
The Player is obsessed with the gory and death on stage. The Player lives to perform as a tragedian and emphasizes death as a necessary component to a good performance.
Appearance: shabby, shameful, disorderly
Personality: The Player is in character all the time, and takes his role as the lead tragedian very seriously. The Player treats his entire life as if it were a play. The Player lives to perform for an audience and becomes enraged at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they fail to watch him. The Player demonstrates knowledge of the occurrences and displays such knowledge through witty sayings. The Player does not question his life, he simply and idly plays his part. The Player is incredibly dramatic and craves to satisfy the audience. The Player is willing to go to extreme measures to perform, and fails to make a distinction between acting and living.
Function: The Player knows far more about what is happening than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do. The Player is witty and intelligent, and does not reveal his knowledge outright. Much of what the Player says in his witty speeches serve as dramatic irony. The Player argues with Guildenstern’s philosophy and encourages Guildenstern to live life simply. The Player often contradicts Guildenstern and they are quite opposite of each other.
Quote: “They're hardly divisible, sir – well, I can do you blood and love without the rhetoric, and I can do you blood and rhetoric without the love, and I can do you all three concurrent or consecutive, but I can't do you love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory – they're all blood, you see.”
The Player is obsessed with the gory and death on stage. The Player lives to perform as a tragedian and emphasizes death as a necessary component to a good performance.
Hamlet
Appearance: Around thirty years old, looking slightly unkempt
Personality: In this account of Hamlet, we are told less about his change of character and he seems to merely be a clever and plotting misunderstood prince. He outsmarts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern multiple times and pulls mean tricks on them. From this point of view, Hamlet seems to be an active character that acts on his thoughts. He is witty, smart and cunning.
Function: He acts as a foil to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He seems to be making sense of the chaos and discord around him, infact he is the cause of most of it, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are merely bystanders that are futilely trying to understand what is going on. He brings out the passivity of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Quote: “Compounded with dust, whereto ‘tis kin”
This quote captures the wittiness of Hamlet, through his constant rattling off of riddles to confuse his enemies. His riddles also demonstrate how in control of the situation he always seems to be, with others trailing behind trying to understand. He is directly opposite of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Appearance: Around thirty years old, looking slightly unkempt
Personality: In this account of Hamlet, we are told less about his change of character and he seems to merely be a clever and plotting misunderstood prince. He outsmarts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern multiple times and pulls mean tricks on them. From this point of view, Hamlet seems to be an active character that acts on his thoughts. He is witty, smart and cunning.
Function: He acts as a foil to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He seems to be making sense of the chaos and discord around him, infact he is the cause of most of it, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are merely bystanders that are futilely trying to understand what is going on. He brings out the passivity of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Quote: “Compounded with dust, whereto ‘tis kin”
This quote captures the wittiness of Hamlet, through his constant rattling off of riddles to confuse his enemies. His riddles also demonstrate how in control of the situation he always seems to be, with others trailing behind trying to understand. He is directly opposite of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.