Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead Essay

In the Western Canon, the body of books, music, and art that are generally accepted as the most influential and important works that shaped Western culture, there are two distinct literary genres: comedy, and tragedy. The characteristics of tragedy as defined by Aristotle are evident in Hamlet by William Shakespeare: pity and fear is evoked by the main character, the main character possesses a tragic flaw (indecision), and is usually a member of the nobility. In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tom Stoppard is relying on the audience already having a general knowledge of Hamlet, and transforms the classic Aristotelian tragedy into a comedy by creating lead characters who have no moral struggles, and are superficial, ordinary men. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is obviously very different from Hamlet. Hamlet is dark and moody, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is absurd. For instance, at the beginning of the play, the only memory the pair vaguely recalls is that they have been summoned. Besides that, however, they remember nothing.
Guild: What’s the first thing you remember?
Ros: Oh, let’s see….The first thing that comes into my head, you mean?
Guild: No-the first thing you remember.
Ros: Ah. (Pause.) No, it’s no good, it’s gone. It was a long time ago. (Act I, pg. 16) …show more content…
Then suddenly-with what seems like a scene change-they are in Denmark, ready to assist Claudius and Gertrude (Hamlet’s Uncle/Father and Aunt/Mother) in finding out what is making Hamlet act so oddly. Transitioning from absolute amnesia to a mission in a scene change, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem to suddenly realize that Hamlet has many reasons for being upset: his father was murdered, his mother married his uncle, and it is quite possible that his uncle actually killed his father. At this point, unlike Hamlet, there is no ruminating, no agonizing over choice-no choices to made at