Life’s Incomprehensibility:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are thrust into situations they find incomprehensible and are largely clueless about the events occurring around them. In particular, they do not understand the real reason behind Hamlet’s behavior and unknowingly serve as a tool for Claudius to achieve his evil ends. The randomness of life – which so befuddles them - is emphasized by their coin-toss in the beginning of the play. As they are not able to find out neither Claudius’ nor Hamlet’s true motives in the play, their inability to find meaning in the events occurring around them takes on a tragic turn and leads to their downfall.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are thrust into situations they find incomprehensible and are largely clueless about the events occurring around them. In particular, they do not understand the real reason behind Hamlet’s behavior and unknowingly serve as a tool for Claudius to achieve his evil ends. The randomness of life – which so befuddles them - is emphasized by their coin-toss in the beginning of the play. As they are not able to find out neither Claudius’ nor Hamlet’s true motives in the play, their inability to find meaning in the events occurring around them takes on a tragic turn and leads to their downfall.
Passivity:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are passive players in their own lives because they are not capable of making decisive choices in the play. This largely stems from their ignorance of other characters’ true motives, reducing them to mere tools in Hamlet’s and Claudius’ clash over power. This very passivity makes them fall victim to the letter that sentences them both to death, as they do not choose to save Hamlet while it was within their power to do so.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are passive players in their own lives because they are not capable of making decisive choices in the play. This largely stems from their ignorance of other characters’ true motives, reducing them to mere tools in Hamlet’s and Claudius’ clash over power. This very passivity makes them fall victim to the letter that sentences them both to death, as they do not choose to save Hamlet while it was within their power to do so.