The Obedient Pawn Rosencrantz

ByMariecor Maranoc

Daniel MaykelDessika Halim

RosencrantzI. Childhood friend of Hamlet

I. Hamlet: “My excellent good friends! How dost though Guildenstern! Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?” (Shakespeare, pg. 58)

II. Best friends with Guildenstern & are both inseparable

III. Accepts situation without questionIV. Summoned by King Claudius & Queen Gertrude

I. King: “Welcome dear Rosencrantz […] I entreat you that being of so young days brought up with him, and since so neighbored to his youth and behavior.” (Shakespeare, pg. 48)

Act II Scene 2: We first meet

Rosencrantz when he arrives with Guildenstern at the King’s request as he asks him to spy on Hamlet to figure out why his attitude has changed. We learn that he is

indeed, a good friend of Hamlet, or at least was, as Hamlet greets him and Guildenstern warmly when

he meets them.

Meet Rosencrantz

Rosencrantz’s Role in Hamlet

• He is told by the King and Queen to spy on Prince Hamlet by using their friendship to earn his trust.

• He continuously obeys the King by reporting back about Hamlet’s actions.

• Rosencrantz, along with Guildenstern both are set up as the confrontation between Hamlet and Claudius.

• Claudius deceives Rosencrantz about Hamlet's voyage to England, telling him & Guildenstern that the insane Hamlet must leave for the people of Denmark to stay safe.

Hamlet, however, finds the letter from Rosencrantz’s belongings & changes his name to Rosencrantz’s & Guildenstern's sending them to be executed in his place.First Ambassador: “To tell him his commandment is fulfilled, that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.”

Dead or Alive in Act V?

ROSENCRANTZ’S PERSONAL QUALITIES

OPTIMISTICHamlet: “Denmark’s a prison.”Rosencrantz: “Why then your ambition makes it one. ‘Tis too narrow for your mind. […] I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow’s shadow.” • Rosencrantz has a more positive attitude towards

Hamlet’s depressing thoughts. As a lighthearted friend, Rosencrantz believes that ambition is what makes him unhappy with his position, and if he were not ambitious, he would be happy with his current position.

PERSONAL QUALITIES CONT.

King: “Something have you heard of Hamlet’s transformation.” (Shakespeare, pg. 48)• Rosencrantz is told that Hamlet is acting strangely by the king.• However, instead of investigating whether this is true or not, he

simply takes this news at face value.• Rosencrantz also never raises any questions as to why Hamlet’s

change of behavior is important to the King. • It’s possible that Rosencrantz is naïve, at least towards the King,

because he may admire the King, and simply wants to believe that he is a good, trustworthy king.

• Rosencrantz may also believe what Claudius says because people in that time believed their king was chosen to be king by God, and someone chosen by God would probably be honest.

Rosencrantz: “Never alone did the King sigh, but with a general groan.” (Shakespeare, pg. 100)

PERSONAL QUALITIES CONT.

Mindless• Hamlet: “That, on the view and knowing of these

contents, without debatement further, more or less, he should the bearers put to sudden death, not shriving time allowed.”

• Rosencrantz does not give a second thought to Hamlet’s disappearance on their voyage to England.

• IF he had given it any thought, he probably realized something was wrong and would have read the letter to him by Claudius, and he would have realized that something was wrong and wouldn’t have given the letter to the King of England

• This lack of intuition on his part can be explained by lust for favor from Claudius; he wants his favor so much that he does exactly as he says, even when things don’t seem right.

Rosencrantz’s Affects on Hamlet

Hamlet: “Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me!” (Shakespeare, pg. 98)Hamlet argues to Guildenstern but also applies

to Rosencrantz because he too is doing the same thing to Hamlet.

Rosencrantz causes Hamlet grief and makes him feel lonely since there is no person to trust anymore other than Horatio.

Hamlet’s Affects on Rosencrantz

Rosencrantz: “I understand you not, my lord.” (Shakespeare, pg. 118)• Rosencrantz seems confused by Hamlet

and his actions.• This may be because a small part of

Rosencrantz still feels loyal to Hamlet• This would mean he isn’t so much

confused by hamlet, but confused as to how to react to Hamlet; as a spy or a friend.

Rosencrantz: (Aside to Guildenstern) “What say you?” (Shakespeare, pg. 60) This shows that at first, Rosencrantz is still

partly loyal to Hamlet. Rosencrantz becomes more obedient to King

Claudius and less loyal to Hamlet. While Rosencrantz remains slightly

considerate of Hamlet, he starts doing whatever Claudius says and gives little thought of what happens to Hamlet, such as when he is told by Claudius to go with Hamlet to England to make sure he doesn’t try to hesitate or go somewhere else.

Rosencrantz’s Changes

Rosencrantz’s Overall QualityRosencrantz: “Both your majesties might, by the sovereign power you have of us. Put your dread pleasures more into command than to entreaty.” (Shakespeare, pg. 49)• Rosencrantz’s overall prevailing quality is his obedience. • Although part of him may still be loyal to Hamlet, he still

decides to betray him in order to get King Claudius's favor.• This obedience may stem from a kind of patriotism he has,

believing that what ever Claudius tells him to do is for the greater good of the kingdom.

• Rosencrantz then would not see himself as a back stabber when spying on Hamlet, but as a courtier doing his duty, just as a modern police officer might arrest his partner if he finds out he’s doing something illegal.

• Despite this, his almost complete obedience to King Claudius makes him little more than a pawn in the end, and because Hamlet has him killed, he is also expandable just like a pawn.

• Rosencrantz, along with Guildenstern both are set up as the confrontation between Hamlet and Claudius.