Ros and Guil

Transformation

In Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, the composer’s intention is to show part of the story of Hamlet out of the eyes of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. It Is different to Shakespeare’s Hamlet because of a number of reasons.

A writer will sometimes create a character who is put into the story to provide a contrast or comparison with the main character. Such a character may be placed into a similar situation as the main character, but react differently, in order to show how much better or worse he/she is than the main character. This kind of character is called a foil. In the story Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Stoppard uses different foils to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Stoppard uses Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as foils for each other. They are both in the same situation but react differently. It shows both of their personalities which enhances people’s interest in the story. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the main characters in the story. Hamlet is used as a plot device.

In Hamlet, Fortinbras is a young Prince of Norway, whose father the King (also named Fortinbras) was killed by Hamlet’s father (also named Hamlet). Fortinbras wishes to attack Denmark to avenge his father’s honour, making him a foil for Prince Hamlet.

A clear perspective of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s personalities is evident in Stoppard’s transformation. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it hardly shows any of their personalities at all. In Hamlet, the confusion surrounding the names of these "attendant lords" (Ros and Guil) is basically an oddly out-of-place gag concerning their insignificance. But as Stoppard moves these minor characters to centre stage, their namelessness becomes a critique of identity.

Stoppard allows the audience to function as critics during the play rather than afterward. By transplanting characters from a play we already know, Stoppard enlarges our perspective. We can see beyond the limited view of the characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and critique their situation in