Verified Document

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead Term Paper

Related Topics:

The two characters are subject to fate and to the impossibility of choice. They cannot decide for their own on the course of their life. The continuous flipping of the coin is relevant in this sense, as the two, while waiting for the decision on their future endeavors, flip the coin with the same result. It can be interpreted as fate, that independent of the actions they take, the eventual end is the same. Death is perceived as the ultimate destination for the human kind. At the same time, the idea of death is an intrinsic thought, as Rosencrantz ponders "Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one. A moment. In childhood. When it first occurred to you that you don't go on forever. Must have been shattering. Stamped into one's memory. And yet, I can't remember it. It never occured to me at all. We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words." Thus, the author of the play and the director of the film tried to point out the inevitability of death and the irrelevance of humans in the framework of the universe. Secondly, the approach of the film tried to underline the different perspective an event can be looked at. Indeed, the story of the play and film is related to...

Yet, the perspective on the events is that of two insignificant characters in the wider play. An analogy could be made with the human being and the universe as a whole. Each person, including the two characters views the world and their lives as being central pieces for the universe. Still, the lack of possibility to influence the path of live gives them a different perspective. They become aware of the mediocrity of the human condition "Rosencrantz: What are you playing at? Guildenstern: Words. Words. They're all we have to go on."
Finally, the film tries to point out the acceptance of the inevitability of death. The language used throughout the dialogues, especially between the two main characters underline the humor one must adopt in the face of the inevitable. Thus, the tragedy is in parts a comedy through lines such as "Rosencrantz: Shouldn't we be doing something... constructive? Guildenstern: What did you have in mind? A short, blunt human pyramid?." Even so, it is obvious from the detachment of the characters their accommodation with the idea of death.

Overall, it can be concluded that the film is aside from any artistic attempt, a story of the human condition with its flaws and limitations, which eventually finishes in death.

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now