Form and Structure
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is organized into three acts. The plot of Hamlet is infused with the plot of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet with King Claudius and Queen Gertrude where they are asked to find out the cause of Hamlet's depression. They also meet Hamlet where Hamlet calls them “a sponge” (90). The play begins with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on the way to the castle after they have been sent for by the king. They recall the morning when a messenger arrived and summoned them. In the end of the acts, there are blackouts and the play resumes with gaps in between. For example, in the end of Act I, Hamlet walks off with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in his arms and in the beginning of Act II, the play returns towards the end of their conversation. In the end of Act II, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in the castle in Denmark yet in Act III, they are in a ship headed to England.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is organized into three acts. The plot of Hamlet is infused with the plot of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet with King Claudius and Queen Gertrude where they are asked to find out the cause of Hamlet's depression. They also meet Hamlet where Hamlet calls them “a sponge” (90). The play begins with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on the way to the castle after they have been sent for by the king. They recall the morning when a messenger arrived and summoned them. In the end of the acts, there are blackouts and the play resumes with gaps in between. For example, in the end of Act I, Hamlet walks off with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in his arms and in the beginning of Act II, the play returns towards the end of their conversation. In the end of Act II, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in the castle in Denmark yet in Act III, they are in a ship headed to England.
Plot
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are featured traveling in the wild, flipping coins, each time landing on "heads." Rosencrantz continuously wins the game while Guildenstern cautiously considers the improbability of the coin's behavior. A troupe of actors, Tragedian, come their way. The player offers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a show which Guildenstern responds to with a bet. Guildenstern leaves before the actors can perform while Rosencrantz highlights that the coin landed "tails."
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are at Elsinore where they witness Ophelia and Hamlet part and receive Claudius' request to pick Hamlet's brain. They both deliberate on their method of approach, further puzzling themselves in the process. Then, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern eavesdrop and hear Hamlet tricking Polonius. They receive a confusing speech from Hamlet which they struggle to decipher.
Hamlet proclaims that a play will be performed the next day. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk about the probable sources of Hamlet's behavior and consider the aftermath of death.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reveal to Claudius, Polonius, and Ophelia that Hamlet has invited them to a play. They are audience to Hamlet's soliloquy in which he considers suicide. Ophelia and Hamlet interact and exit.
The play that the Tragedians stage mirrors Claudius' ascension to the throne and his relationship with Gertrude. Hamlet verbally abuses Ophelia and leaves. The Tragedians' play darkly hints at the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern while the pair openly considers how accurately death can be depicted on a stage.
Claudius and Gertrude calls on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet because he has just killed Polonius. They begin to scheme, but are thwarted when Hamlet appears carrying a Polonius' corpse and quickly disappears. Hamlet points out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's servility to Claudius when they question him of Polonius's body. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern depart after Guildenstern shares that they must escort Hamlet to England at Claudius's request.
While sailing to England, they discover that Guildenstern's letter from Claudius discloses that Hamlet is planned to be executed in England. Based on this shocking news, they cannot decide what to do. When the two are asleep, Hamlet swaps their letter with one he has written. Before Pirates charge the ship, the Tragedians unexpectedly jump out of the barrels. Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Hamlet, and the Player hide in the barrels.
When they emerge from the barrels, Hamlet is gone. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern practice what they plan to say to the English King until Guildenstern discovers that the letter now stats that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be executed. Out of panic, Guildenstern stabs the Player with one of his own knives. After the Player feigns his death, he shows Guildenstern that the knife was a stage prop.
The Tragedians, act out different deaths onstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern each lament about their nearing deaths. The final scene features the dead bodies of Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, and Laertes.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are featured traveling in the wild, flipping coins, each time landing on "heads." Rosencrantz continuously wins the game while Guildenstern cautiously considers the improbability of the coin's behavior. A troupe of actors, Tragedian, come their way. The player offers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a show which Guildenstern responds to with a bet. Guildenstern leaves before the actors can perform while Rosencrantz highlights that the coin landed "tails."
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are at Elsinore where they witness Ophelia and Hamlet part and receive Claudius' request to pick Hamlet's brain. They both deliberate on their method of approach, further puzzling themselves in the process. Then, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern eavesdrop and hear Hamlet tricking Polonius. They receive a confusing speech from Hamlet which they struggle to decipher.
Hamlet proclaims that a play will be performed the next day. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk about the probable sources of Hamlet's behavior and consider the aftermath of death.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reveal to Claudius, Polonius, and Ophelia that Hamlet has invited them to a play. They are audience to Hamlet's soliloquy in which he considers suicide. Ophelia and Hamlet interact and exit.
The play that the Tragedians stage mirrors Claudius' ascension to the throne and his relationship with Gertrude. Hamlet verbally abuses Ophelia and leaves. The Tragedians' play darkly hints at the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern while the pair openly considers how accurately death can be depicted on a stage.
Claudius and Gertrude calls on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet because he has just killed Polonius. They begin to scheme, but are thwarted when Hamlet appears carrying a Polonius' corpse and quickly disappears. Hamlet points out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's servility to Claudius when they question him of Polonius's body. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern depart after Guildenstern shares that they must escort Hamlet to England at Claudius's request.
While sailing to England, they discover that Guildenstern's letter from Claudius discloses that Hamlet is planned to be executed in England. Based on this shocking news, they cannot decide what to do. When the two are asleep, Hamlet swaps their letter with one he has written. Before Pirates charge the ship, the Tragedians unexpectedly jump out of the barrels. Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Hamlet, and the Player hide in the barrels.
When they emerge from the barrels, Hamlet is gone. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern practice what they plan to say to the English King until Guildenstern discovers that the letter now stats that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be executed. Out of panic, Guildenstern stabs the Player with one of his own knives. After the Player feigns his death, he shows Guildenstern that the knife was a stage prop.
The Tragedians, act out different deaths onstage for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern each lament about their nearing deaths. The final scene features the dead bodies of Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, and Laertes.