important quotes
Act I
At the beginning of the drama, Guildenstern finds himself repeatedly betting on the losing side of a coin flip. As Rosencrantz calls heads and wins over ninety times, Guildenstern worries about the implications of such an improbable occurrence. Guildenstern realizes, “each individual coin spun individually is as likely to come down heads as tails” (16). In his attempt to illicit understanding, Guildenstern demonstrates the ideals of existentialism. One may quickly assume that the universe is illogical, but only upon further examination and a shift in perspective does one reveal meaning in the world.
When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet the Player and the tragedians, Rosencrantz mixes his name up with Guildenstern’s name. Rosencrantz says, “My name is Guildenstern, and this is Rosencrantz” (22). One’s name determines the core of his/her identity. This confusion with names demonstrates Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s lack of identity and their lack of purpose. With each identity crisis, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to evaluate the meaning of their existence on Earth.
Claudius and Gertrude visit Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to request that they accompany Hamlet and find out the source of Hamlet’s afflictions. Gertrude reminds Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that their “visitation shall receive such thanks as fits a king’s remembrance” (36). Her words serve a dual purpose as a threat and a bribe, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern accept the offer. Regardless of Claudius’ treacherous accession to the throne, money has the ability to seemingly erase his transgressions and generate respect from his subjects.
However, Rosencrantz realizes the implications of his agreeing to betray Hamlet and requests to go home. Guildenstern responds, “Enjoy it. Relax…be taken in hand and led, like being a child again” (40). In the pursuit of self-interest, Guildenstern has replaced his previous attempts to understand the world around him. With Claudius and Gertrude’s promises of riches and favor, Guildenstern returns to an inauthentic life in which his reality and destiny are dictated by others.
Act II
As Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to distinguish the direction of the wind, they also anticipate the visit of Claudius and Gerturde. Guildenstern says, “If we happened to discover or even suspect, that our spontaneity was part of their order, we would know that we were lost” (60). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s puzzling situation originates from their very first choice of following the summons of the messenger. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have given up the power to control their own lives, and as a result, they find themselves lost mentally and physically.
After reuniting with the Player at Elsinore, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern discuss their confusing situation. When Guildenstern complains that he does not know what is true anymore, the Player says, “Everything has to be taken on trust… One acts on assumptions” (67). The Player suggests that doubt is a characteristic feature of human life. Instead of solving complications or investigating ambiguity, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fall deeper into the turmoil of an allegedly incomprehensible world.
At the conclusion of the mimed rehearsal, Guildenstern angrily criticizes the unreliability of the tragedians’ deaths. However, the Player claims, “Audiences know what to expect and that is all they are prepared to believe in” (84). For Guildenstern, the elusiveness in death stems from its lack of definite portrayal. By characterizing death as something commonplace and inevitable, the Player deepens Guildenstern’s fears of the inevitable.
After listening to Hamlet speak with a soldier, Guildenstern corrects Rosencrantz’s belief that the season is summer. With Guildenstern’s description of autumn, he notices, “Brown is creeping up on us, take my word for it” (94). Although Guildenstern is aware of his impending downfall, he continues to allow external forces to determine his fate. Once again, it is the environment that takes action upon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern themselves are merely onlookers.
Act III
In Act III, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find themselves on a boat headed for England. Quite fond of the boat, Guildenstern notes, “You do not have to worry about which way to go, or whether to go at all” (100). Stoppard uses the boat to reflect the experience of living in a universe that is beyond one’s control. The constricting nature of a boat allows one to supposedly rest from the chaos of life by giving up the ability to control his/her own decisions.
Towards the denouement of this drama, Rosencrantz exerts one last effort to retake authority over his own fate. As he tears away the veil that covers his eyes, he realizes that he is trapped in an inescapable situation. Rosencrantz says, “I wish I was dead. I could jump over the side” (108). Rosencrantz concludes that he must die in order to escape the reach of society. Rosencrantz faces death willingly because he has discovered the truth, and only in death will he be truly free.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern discover themselves on the same boat as the player and his tragedians, both literally and figuratively. The Player reveals that his band has been sent away after upsetting the King. Highlighting the risks present in everyday life, the Player says, “Life is a gamble, at terrible odds” (115). Reminiscent of the coin flipping at the beginning of the drama, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have allowed their lives to be dictated by chance rather than individual actions. They embrace the very thing that torments them, finding it easier to give into chance than actively deciding the direction of their lives.
After opening up the letter for the second time, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern realize that they carry a letter that outlines their execution. Guildenstern explains, “Where we went wrong was getting on a boat. We can move…but our movement is contained” (122). Though Rosencrantz and Guildenstern experience a momentary escape, they still possess no say in the direction of their lives. Whether they board the boat or not, their fate has been predetermined. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s mistake was not getting on the boat but simply existing, concluding that their only escape is death.