The play begins with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern flipping coins. The coins continue to land heads. Rosencrantz wins everywhere it lands heads. They run into the actors from Hamlet on their way to Elsinore. They find out that the actors have become prostitutes. The actors and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have a bet. There, the actors pack up and leave. The coin is revealed to be tails. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are suddenly thrown into a scene in Hamlet where Hamlet is chasing Ophelia, who abruptly. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet with Claudius and my main squeeze Gertrude. They are tasked with figuring out what ails Hamlet. They then pretend to be Hamlet to find a good approach to find out what is bothering him. They meet with Hamlet, but discern nothing of value. The players return, and perform the play Hamlet wanted them to perform. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to trap Hamlet when they find out that he killed Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern then tell Hamlet that they have to escort Hamlet to England. It then cuts to them on a boat. They see Hamlet sleeping by them. They open up their orders from the king and find out that Hamlet will be executed in England. Then, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fall asleep Hamlet switches out the letter with a letter ordering the king of England to execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The tragedians from earlier pop out of some barrels on deck just as the pirates attack the ship. Everyone jumps into a barrel and the tragedians and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pop out afterwards, without Hamlet or the pirates. When they realize that Hamlet is no longer with them the Guildenstern says, "We've travelled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation." (121). To this, Rosencrantz responds, "Be happy - if you're not even happy about surviving? We'll be alright. I suppose we just go on." (121). Here, the pair realize they have no point without Hamlet. The tragedians then talk about different forms of death, and they all perform them. The disappear, leaving Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to contemplate their fate. Then, there is a cut revealing the end of Hamlet where everyone has died.
Sixth hour's theme statement was, the way we perceive our circumstances affects the way we perceive our free will. This plagues Rosencrantz and Guildenstern throughout the play. They are constantly trying to push the boundaries of their free will, like trying to climb out of the set, and by breaking the fourth wall. They never succeed because they are not fully aware of their entrapment. Also, when Rosencrantz giving his box monologue. He believes that living in a box would be worse than living at all. He believes that he is not living in a box, even though he is. We as the audience see that he is enclosed in a box, the stage. He is just not aware of this. He believes that he has complete free will, while we know he does not.
Hi Nick,
ReplyDeleteYour summary and analysis of the book is not complete. The summary is there, but large sections of the analysis are not. I like your class’s theme statement though, with the idea that the characters are all trapped in a box, though they don’t even know it. I thought this was funny, since the characters showed that they could see the audience on a few occasions, meaning they must think we’re in the box with them as well, or at least in the same world. Going with that, what would you think if you were in their shoes? You’re going about your business and there’s just a large group of people sitting in chairs watching you the whole way? I would personally be pretty freaked out.
Also just noticed the cats down there. \/\/\/
While I think Jeff makes a good point about the analysis, this post is also about what works for you in terms of remembering the play for the exam. That said, the design of your post is lacking. You should think about headers and subheaders and bulleted lists (a classic!) to help break up your ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou seem secure in your choice of theme statement, which puts you ahead of about 95% of our class. Someday, somehow, we will put together an R&G theme statement. Until then...
Hi Nick,
ReplyDeleteYou should probably work on the organization of this if you're going to come back and try and study off this for the AP test. Make sure you go back to Ms. Holmes page and see what she's looking for for this prompt because it seems you are missing some things and it's hard for me to tell if you are elaborating or not because everything seems to be jumbled in result of the paragraph format. I agree with Jeff and Darby that you need work on your analysis but first i would just work on organizing it better and then go from there.