symbols

 

Coin:
The coin represents duality of choices in life. Both sides have a value, but it is impossible to receive the benefits of both sides at the same time. With the law of probability, the chances of the coin falling on heads or tails is 50-50. However, the first half of Act One demonstrates that this law is suspended and the not-so-random world exclusively favors heads. This demonstrates the separation between the dimensions of possibility and probability. Although the coin has a high probability of facing either heads or tails, it is not always possible. The coin serves to symbolize that just like it is impossible to counteract the coin from facing up, many things in life are irresistible. Similarly, the sides of the coin symbolizes life and death. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern either get rewarded by betraying Hamlet successfully or fail and die.

 

Unicorn:
The unicorn serves to symbolize the transition from reality to series of misinterpretations to a false reality. It demonstrates that reality has become very thin, and our view of reality does not have a lot of substance. This mythical creature symbolizes limitations in our perspectives and our tendency to follow the mob mentality. Not many people have the courage to stand up for truth. External forces thin out our perception of reality.

 

Home:

Home symbolizes our moment of epiphany. Rosencrantz understands the implications of the situation with Hamlet and realizes that home is where he must go in order to feel safe. Home is symbolic of safety/comfort/security. By wanting to go home, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern demonstrates their fear of consequences. They realize they are in a situation that is beyond their control which leads them to seek an escape route.

 

Hawk and handsaw:

Hawk is another name for an axe that is used for cutting wood. They serve the same purpose but can be differentiated. This comparison demonstrates that Hamlet knows friend from enemy. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are confused at Hamlet’s statement. This further demonstrates their cluelessness.

 

Mask:
A mask is symbolic of different identities and an inauthentic life. The mask represents the art of theatre and changes depending on the audience or situation. These external forces dictate which mask one should put on which signifies a lack of free will to make our own choices.

 

Speech:

Speech is used to interact with other people and find out more about ourselves. Its use contributes to our search for identity. Rosencrantz yells, “Fire!” and this represents mistaken identity as speech is frequently misused because humans lie.

 

motifs

 

Acting:

Human beings are players that impersonate their allotted roles in everyday lives. To be versatile and flexible are an actor’s responsibilities. The life of a human being is reduced to a performance, and the characters that he or she portrays is largely dependent on the audience.

 

Gambling:
The reoccurring scenes of gambling throughout the play characterizes Rosencrantz as an individual that allows chance and the universe to guide his life. On the other hand, Guildenstern represents the existentialism belief that existence precedes essence. Rather than following the flow of the world, Guildenstern believes in an individual's own ability to dictate life's events.

 

Forgetfulness:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are characterized as forgetful characters, and Stoppard describes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ambiguously to demonstrate just how indistinguishable they are during their confused state. Throughout life, humans present themselves with an identity that is shaped by past experiences and people. When it is lost or taken away, one is stripped of everything that has given him or her meaning in life.Their search for their past and identity correlates with the universal desire to find meaning in existence.

 

Possibility and probability:

Humans exist in between these two dimensions.

"A man breaking his journey between one place and another at a third place..."(21) After seeing a unicorn, the witnesses create different interpretations of the mythical creature, each driving further from reality. The place in between is where humans create meaning to things they are given.
"You live so close to truth, it becomes a permanent blur in the corner of your eye" (39) Humans are stuck between the two dimensions and settle with false truth.

 

Mistaken identity:

The value of identity comes with purpose. In addition to a comedic effect, Stoppard creates confusion and misidentification among the characters to demonstrate the impact of a mistaken identity. The world corresponds each face with a name to give meaning to each individual. Therefore, the lack of identity signifies a lack of purpose. Alfred is used throughout the play as a running joke, but he also contributes to this motif. Although he is a man, he is mistaken for a woman.

 

Death:

Death is inevitable but acceptance of death is not.

Rather than viewing death as something that everyone experiences, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to reject its inevitability in real life. Humans seem to be born with an intuition of mortality, yet death is still a difficult concept for them to understand and believe. Rosencrantz previously announced his inability to recall the moment it first occurred to him that life is not infinite. He concludes that this memory is absent because he has yet to accept the fact. Stoppard spoils the death of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the title, yet readers still read to the end as a representation of one’s daily struggle against the inevitable.

 

themes

 

• Life is subject to fate’s design

• One has the ability to create meaning in his/her lives before an inescapable death

• Improbability does not mean impossibility

• Every human being has his/her price