ipl-logo

Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Friendship Essay

1604 Words7 Pages

In many stories and plays, friendships are formed and are represented. Friendships in these types of media come from wealth, power, or similar interests. In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet and his close friend Horatio, as well as Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have friendships that transcend through time. Hamlet and Horatio present a very secure and stable relationship, which presented the things required in life, such as loyalty, trust, and common interests. Hamlet and his absent friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern present a relationship which a burden and unhelpful to Hamlet and presented what one does not from a friendship. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had the potential to be better friends to Hamlet, should they wanted …show more content…

Hamlet and his school friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had a dishonest and insincere friendship. Hamlet and the pair we’re not really friends. Hamlet was very surprised Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were at Elsinore. While Hamlet could have had a positive long-distance relationship with the pair, he did not appear happily surprised by their visit, but wary. Following Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arriving, Hamlet was wary, cautious, and did not trust them. Hamlet greeted the two with, “what make you at Elsinore?” (2. 2. l. 270), to which Rosencrantz responded, “To visit you my lord; no other occasion.” (2. 2. l. 271). Hamlet, already cautious, "Were you not sent for? Is it your own/ inclining? Is it a free visitation?" (2. 2. l. 274-275). Hamlet did not trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's intentions. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had personal connections with Hamlet. Following Hamlet greeting them, he asks them how they are doing, and Rosencrantz responds, "As indifferent children of the earth." (2. 2. l. 226), and Guildenstern responds, "Happy, in that we are not over happy;" (2. 2. l. 227) This personal connection highlights their connections to each other in their relationship. Humour was also a personal connection which exists in the friendship of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Hamlet. "Then you live about her waist or in the middle of/ her favours" (2. …show more content…

They could have been much better to him. They utterly mistreated their friendship with Hamlet. "As to extend your time with us a while/ For the supply and profit of our hope,/ Your visitation shall receive such thanks" (2. 2. l. 23-25) Queen Gertrude says to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, telling them that they will be compensated for their services to spy on Hamlet. Instead of betraying their friend, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern could have rejected the job to spy on Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also deceived Hamlet and pretended they were good to him. "What's the news?" Hamlet asked Rosencrantz, to which he responded, "None, my lord; but that the world's grown honest". Rosencrantz and Guildenstern deceived Hamlet, and if they had refrained from doing that they would have been much better friends to him. Furthermore, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were tasked with taking Hamlet to England, where he would be killed. While the pair likely did not know that Hamlet's potential death was coming, they still actively went against Hamlet's goals. If Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wanted to be the best friends they could be, they would need to stop actively fighting against Hamlets cause. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lacked respect for their friendship with Hamlet. The duo could have respected their friendship with Hamlet by doing what was right, and not disregarding the just things that exist in a relationship.

Show More
Related

Who Is Laertes A Foil To Hamlet

1241 Words | 5 Pages

Here Hamlet is seen discussing how he feels about his mother and uncle’s immorality by getting married after his father was only gone for a month. Later in the play, Hamlet still has these same good qualities, but with more bad and unredeemable qualities. He begins to turn cruel toward people in his life who care about him, like his mother and Ophelia. He also arranges the murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern without even the slightest apology. Hamlet tells Horatio in 5.2.45-47: “He should those bearers put to sudden death, Not shriving time allowed.”

Read More

Ambition In Fifth Business

1178 Words | 5 Pages

In 1.2 King Claudius gives speech addressing his brother’s death and the war potential in Denmark without sign of guilt and recognize what he have done to obtain this power. Similarly when Claudius witness the strange action of hamlet he send rosencrantz and guildenstern who are Hamlet best friends to spy on Hamlet even though they are doing what the king is asking they look suspicious to Hamlet which cause the break point in their relationship which cause their death. “To draw him on to pleasures and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus that , opened, lies within our

Read More

Summary Of Simon Godwin's Hamlet

1436 Words | 6 Pages

and Rosencrantz wonders “How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?” (2.3. 337 -341). On the other hand, the way she treated Guildenstern in the scene with suspicion was because of the ghost of his father appearing to him and revealing his killer. The prince was aware that Guildenstern was a spy for Claudius and when she says she has been send by his mother the queen “ The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.” Hamlet replies “You are welcome” using a puppet to mock her, Guildenstern replies “Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed.

Read More

Rosencratz And Laertrude Quotes About Hamlet

395 Words | 2 Pages

I agree with the quotes that both Rosencratz and Laertes said about Hamlet because of the particular pressure of having less freedom to do as he wants is understandable, knowing that his, King Claudius’s and Gertrudes decisions affect everyone in Denmark, not just themselves or just a few like ordinary people. At the beginning of the novel, Prince Hamlet, was so emotional about the loss of his father, that even his mother Gertrude and uncle Claudius would talk about how moody he had been. Prince Hamlet was really upset with his mother because he viewed the marriage between her and Claudius as being her fault. I think Hamlet had to just suck it up and move on because there was nothing Hamlet could do to have them separate from each other. A

Read More

Rosencrantz Of The Dangers Of Working With Claudius Analysis

311 Words | 2 Pages

Even though he knows Rosencrantz is a spy, he wants to prevent Rosencrantz from being manipulated by Claudius. Hamlet’s reason for doing this is hinted at by his diction. He says that any “officers” who,

Read More

Essay Comparing Hamlet And The Handmaid's Tale

1511 Words | 7 Pages

There was nobody that Hamlet could fully trust, with the exception of Horatio. In addition to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on him for the king, Polonius, Claudius and Ophelia were all contributors to spying on Hamlet’s conversation with Ophelia. Also, Gertrude is disloyal to Hamlet’s father and may have had an affair with Claudius which makes her another character that Hamlet cannot trust. Horatio is the only person in the play that Hamlet trusts, the one who gives Hamlet the most companionship, and most importantly the only friend of Hamlet to help Hamlet. He understands Hamlet the most, believed that Hamlet’s madness is an act, and is the closest thing to true ‘family’ that Hamlet has if we consider the internal conflicts of the royal family.

Read More

Isolation In Hamlet

384 Words | 2 Pages

In Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s remarks continually highlight his emotional and mental instability, which further adds aspects of anger and loneliness to his complex characterization due to his uncontrollable environment. “ [The world is] a goodly one [prison], in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’ th’ worst,” (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 264 - 266).   At this point in the play, Hamlet is conversing with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, friends of Hamlet’s who were sent by King Claudius to spy on him.

Read More

Comparing Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead

1600 Words | 7 Pages

One of them gets impassioned to make decisions about their plans. However, most of the time, they are very “indifferent” (23) and “have no desires” (17). Both of them make several references to how they are “entitled to some direction” and would rather someone make decisions for them. They doubt themselves and whether or not they honestly have a choice (43). Rosencrantz is even shown to understand Hamlet’s plight during the play, but never make any actions based on that understanding.

Read More

Free Will In Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern

949 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

Examples Of Rash Action In Hamlet

640 Words | 3 Pages

Several characters differ in how they treat their friends. Characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are examples of false friendship and manipulation, while Horatio is an example of true friendship and loyalty. In the end, Horatio is praised and asked to share Hamlet’s story, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are murdered at Hamlet’s command. This contrast shows how true friendship is invaluable and rewarded while false friendship is a mistake and will be punished. This theme teaches readers how to act towards friends through showing the consequences of

Read More

Hamlet And Julie Tragic Hero

1771 Words | 8 Pages

Turning now to the absurd world of the two plays. To begin with, Hamlet finds himself in a world of actors where no one is who they seem. Claudius is playing the role of the king though his betrayal would suggest he is not meant to be king. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are playing the role of Hamlet 's friends while secretly working for Claudius. Even fair Ophelia, who Hamlet thought honest deceives him in Act 3 scene 1.

Read More

Examples Of Suicidal Tendencies In Hamlet

814 Words | 4 Pages

He showed massive respect for his late father. Hamlet was a very smart man and he devised many plans that affected many people. People took him for granted because they thought he was insane. Hamlet was able to tell who was a true friend of his and who was there trying to find something wrong with him. His only true friend was Horatio.

Read More

Hamlet Deception Essay

1168 Words | 5 Pages

By expressing their unwavering loyalty to the king by agreeing to spy on Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reinforce the theme of deception as he betrays Hamlet, their long-time friend, in order to carry out Claudius’s dirty work. This betrayal and deception ultimately lead to their tragic demise as the letter, Hamlet’s execution note, which they are ordered to deliver, is discovered by Hamlet himself and used against them. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed and Hamlet feels no guilt whatsoever, as their betrayal really hurt him. Another illustration of deception is highlighted through the various acts of King Claudius, as he is the mastermind behind many of

Read More

Loss Of Innocence In Hamlet

731 Words | 3 Pages

As a result,Hamlet can never trust his uncle’s wicked ways to get into people’s heads. Hamlet was betrayed by his friends because they worked for Claudius and gave orders from him,which caused him to not trust them either. For example,when Claudius summons Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to spy on Hamlet,Claudius said,”see if you can make Hamlet feel better and see if you can get info on what he is up to”(Shakespeare 87). This behavior shows evil purposes and twisted words. Claudius sends Hamlet’s friends to make him happier but also use them to see if Hamlet is mad.

Read More

Examples Of Corruption In Hamlet

672 Words | 3 Pages

This is shown in the quote, “But we both obey, and here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet To be commanded.” (Act 2 Scene 2 Line 29), and proves that they do not value the friendship between themselves and Hamlet. Once more, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s false loyalty is proven when they knowingly agree to send Hamlet to his

Read More

More about Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Friendship Essay

Related Topics

Open Document