Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Many critics have analyzed and dissected Shakespeare’s Hamlet in many different ways. Jan Kott, traditionally a theater critic, assessed Hamlet more as a work of theater than as a work of literature. He conjectures that the characters in Hamlet are “defined by their situations.” The plot of Hamlet has already been set and will not change; certain characters cannot change what will happen no matter what they try. Through this lense, the way we look at Hamlet and its characters must change. Instead of looking at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as playing their characters of Hamlet’s once friends and now pawns of Claudius, we must read them as if that is exactly who they are, and is if they are unable to do anything about this. This form of reading
During one of their interactions with Hamlet, Hamlet presses Guildenstern into trying to play a recorder. After adamantly denying his ability to play such an instrument, Hamlet asks if they “think [he] is easier to be played on than a pipe?” (III.ii. 400). By not allowing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to define and play upon others around them, Shakespeare defines them by their situation. We see this dynamic again in the their interactions with the king and queen. Immediately upon meeting with them, some of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s first words are that they “give up [their]selves in the full bent” to Claudius and Gertrude (II.ii. 32). Shakespeare sets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern up as characters defined by their situation by having some of their first words be giving themselves up to be controlled by others. Once Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are established as being defined by their situation, it changes the way that we read their scenes and
Immediately upon their arrival, Hamlet greets them as his “excellent good friends!” (II.ii. 242). After joking with them for a short time, Hamlet asks what brings them to Elsinore. Rosencrantz is quick to say only to visit with Hamlet. Hamlet, seeing through this lie, continues to probe deeper, finally uncovering his “friend”s’ deceit. Shakespeare must have a reason for writing these “friends” into traitors. He simply uses them as a device to further explore Hamlet’s character. Although Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are seen to act treacherously towards Hamlet here, they actually allow him to further express himself. From this interaction we learn more about Hamlet’s current disposition and mindset after he delivers his speech where he compares the night sky to nothing “but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors” (II.ii. 326). Shakespeare uses these two characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to further develop the protagonist of the story while leaving them to be defined by their situation in the scenario.
In Jan Kott’s analysis of Hamlet, he proposes that characters are defined by their situation, and that they cannot change their situation. Reading Hamlet through this lense changes the way we read certain characters. Among these are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. By looking at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in this way we can achieve a different