Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is based on Shakespeares tragedy,Hamlet, and incorporates aspects of black comedy
by
harshpatel2396 (student)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Essay presentation
In Shakespearean theatre, tragedies end in the fall of a tragic hero, inducing pity and fear in the audience. Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is based on Shakespeare’s tragedy,Hamlet, and incorporates aspects of black comedy. In the play, black humour is used to lighten dark matters and ultimately add to the light-heartedness of the play.
The dialogue of the characters incorporates black humour to take the focus off of the misfortune of others. First, the serious and tragic matters which affect the characters are introduced in a comedic way. The Player determines the cause for Hamlet’s madness and says, “The old man thinks he’s in love with his daughter” to which a confused Rosencrantz replies, “Good God! We’re out of our depth here” (60). The reader understands that Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, the daughter of the old man, Polonius, but Rosencrantz does not. The characters in the play disregard the serious matter of Hamlet’s madness aside through comedy, as they focus on the Player’s wordswhich suggest incest. Moreover, serious matters are transformedinto games to lighten the mood. After an encounter with Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern discuss the information they have gathered. Their lack of success is made clear when Rosencrantz announces, “Six rhetorical and two repetition, leaving nineteen of which we answered fifteen. And what did we get in return? He’s depressed!”(48). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tally up their success of determining Hamlet’s misfortune through a game. They show little sympathy towards Hamlet’s condition, and instead relieve the tension in a humorous way. Even though the play of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern possesses tragic aspects, the humour incorporated into the play makes it more light-hearted.
