Characters
Rosencrantz
Rosencrantz is depicted as a well-dressed Elizabethan courtier, complete with a hat, cloak, and stick, carrying a large leather moneybag. He appears to be waiting for something or someone without understanding the purpose. Alongside his close companion, Guildenstern, he is so indistinguishable that he introduces himself as Guildenstern by mistake, only realizing the error when corrected by his friend. Rosencrantz, along with Guildenstern, seems to be biding time for a messenger to inform them of their roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Commissioned by Claudius, Rosencrantz's task is to uncover the reasons behind Hamlet's erratic behavior. Amid playful yet urgent word games that seem more like a distraction from despair than entertainment, he attempts to confront Hamlet. However, due to a clever trick by Hamlet, Rosencrantz is ultimately condemned to die instead of fulfilling his mission.
Guildenstern
Guildenstern, another Elizabethan courtier mirroring Rosencrantz's appearance with a hat, cloak, and stick, also carries a large leather moneybag. He too awaits something or someone, unaware of the purpose. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are so similar that distinguishing features are negligible. He feigns to be Hamlet, allowing Rosencrantz to test a strategy to probe Hamlet's peculiar behavior. Like Rosencrantz, Guildenstern's fate is sealed due to Hamlet's machinations, and he is condemned to die. Their companionship is marked by an attempt to find meaning and avoid despair through their seemingly frivolous yet desperate games.
The Player
The Player leads the troupe of tragedians and engages in dialogues with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, revealing the tragedians' lack of principles, a contrast to the two courtiers' character. Described by Guildenstern as a "comic pornographer and a rabble of prostitutes," the Player also appears in Shakespeare's play as the actor performing the Pyrrhus speech for Hamlet. In Stoppard's play, he is a significant character, leading the wandering actors who perform The Murder of Gonzago. The Player is eloquent on the topics of reality and theatrical illusion, exhibiting pride in his craft yet lamenting his financial struggles and dependence on audiences. Philosophical and pragmatic, he is resilient and seasoned, accepting life's uncertainties with more ease than others.
The Tragedians
The Tragedians, a group of six traveling actors including the Player and a small boy named Alfred, consist of a drummer, horn player, and flutist, with another member managing the props cart. They journey to the royal court to perform a drama commissioned by Hamlet. In Stoppard's play, they are presented as more child-like and playful than their Shakespearean counterparts, often involved in musical performances alongside their mimed roles in The Murder of Gonzago.
Alfred
Alfred, unique to Stoppard's invention, is a young boy among the tragedians,
thrust into female roles in drag, a task he finds embarrassing. His character
highlights the theme of imposed identity and discomfort in Stoppard's
narrative.
Ambassador
The Ambassador from England appears toward the conclusion of both plays,
delivering the grim news that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's execution orders
have been fulfilled.
Claudius
Claudius, portrayed as Hamlet's uncle, clandestinely murders Hamlet's father,
marries his mother, and summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to discern the
cause of Hamlet's unusual demeanor. Following Polonius's death at Hamlet's
hands, Claudius dispatches Hamlet, accompanied by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
to England with sealed orders for Hamlet's execution.
Gertrude
Gertrude, in both Shakespeare's and Stoppard's plays, is Hamlet's mother and
now wedded to King Claudius. Her character remains consistent across the two
narratives.
Hamlet
In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet is the central figure, yet in Stoppard's play, he takes on a minor presence, appearing sporadically to enact his renowned role as the brooding Dane. Stoppard portrays him more whimsically, lounging casually in a deck...
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chair.
Horatio
Horatio, Hamlet's confidant in Shakespeare's work, appears solely at the end of
Stoppard's play to deliver its concluding speech.
Ophelia
Ophelia, Polonius's daughter and Hamlet's romantic interest, appears in both
plays. However, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead trims her
Shakespearean lines, often having her mime her parts.
Polonius
Polonius, in both Shakespeare's and Stoppard's works, is Ophelia's father,
mistakenly slain by Hamlet, who believes him to be the King. He is depicted as
elderly, talkative, and somewhat foolish across both versions.
Soldier
Appearing in both plays, a soldier converses with Hamlet and identifies
Fortinbras, the Norwegian commander, who is moving his troops across Denmark
towards Poland. Hamlet respects Fortinbras's bravery, and Fortinbras eventually
ascends to the Danish throne following Claudius and Hamlet's deaths.
Guildenstern
In Stoppard's play, Guildenstern is the more contemplative and intellectual of the two courtiers who serve as minor characters in Shakespeare's work but become central figures in Stoppard's. The initial coin-tossing scene troubles Guildenstern because he yearns for order and predictability in the universe. The seeming breach of probability in the coin toss compels him to seek an explanation, though he tries to stay composed when no satisfying answers emerge.
Guildenstern possesses a wry sense of humor, often displaying sarcasm. He is resilient but can quickly become angry and is prone to panic or despondency when feeling overwhelmed. He enjoys hearing himself speak and frequently goes on lengthy tangents, sometimes without making much sense. He often employs parables and analogies to grapple with the enigmas he faces and enjoys verbal games as a means of working through problems.
Wary and nervous, Guildenstern prefers to remain in control and questions more than his friend, Rosencrantz, whom he frequently badgers. However, he ultimately aims to protect and support Rosencrantz with optimism whenever possible.
Rosencrantz
Rosencrantz is a minor character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, but he takes on a prominent role in Stoppard's unique adaptation of the story. In Shakespeare's play, Rosencrantz is one of Hamlet's friends from university in Wittenberg. Alongside Guildenstern, he is summoned by King Claudius to Denmark because Hamlet, after returning for his father's funeral and his mother's wedding, begins to behave erratically. Rosencrantz aids Guildenstern in spying on Hamlet for Claudius and is later tasked with escorting Hamlet to England after Hamlet kills Polonius. Upon his return to England, Hamlet tells his friend Horatio that he discovered Claudius's letter ordering his death while on the ship. He replaced it with a letter commanding the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and escaped the ship during a pirate attack. In Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are so indistinct that Claudius and Queen Gertrude cannot tell them apart.
In Stoppard's play, Rosencrantz is portrayed as the more timid of the two courtiers and is far less contemplative and philosophical than his friend Guildenstern. At the start of the play, Rosencrantz is winning every round of the "heads or tails" game and feels embarrassed about taking so much money from his friend, yet he seems either unaware or unconcerned about the unusual streak of "heads." He is relatively unreflective, naive, innocent, and even somewhat simple-minded. He often "tunes out" when Guildenstern delves into philosophical discussions, but he is very sensitive to and concerned about his friend's unhappiness. Generally, he questions less than Guildenstern, but when he grasps their predicament, he tends to feel more overwhelmed. However, when he senses the approach of death, Rosencrantz is quietly resigned.
