Free Will In Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

Humans do indeed have free will; however, due to their inability to make intelligent decisions for themselves, it remains largely predetermined. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are minor characters given the role as major characters, but once they are given the role, they cannot comprehend their newfound freedom. Human nature prevents them from utilizing this freedom; instead they fall back to previous values mandated by society. Language gets broken down and becomes more incoherent as the play progresses to demonstrate this. The reason is because language is the oldest form of oppression, and although they are supposedly unrestricted now, they cannot comprehend this. Their conversations becomes shallow, and what little communication is actually

Although the audience and certain characters realize it 's a play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern remain oblivious. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are forced to fill certain previously determined roles, because their actions are limited by the scope of Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Nassar 1). Because of this, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s fate remains predetermined as they are incapable of escaping their respective roles, which leads to their demise. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are hopelessly lost because they allow themselves to controlled by

Free will is merely an illusion in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. To give an example, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to intercept Hamlet on stage, but they always end up following anything Hamlet or Claudius proposes. When are are watching the play that foreshadows their fate, Guildenstern ironically remarks: “Keep back — we’re spectators” (Stoppard 39). Their illusion about their status makes them wander aimlessly until they meet their tragic end (Draudt 4). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are destined to die, not because of fate, but because their incapability to handle their own situation leads them to be unable to alter the situation at all. This is the reason for their inability to understand direction. It explains their own confusion as to who they are and question their purpose of their existence. The reason Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have limited existences because their existence is only justified when an audience is watching the play. When the audience stops watching, the characters cease to