English Essay: Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

English Essay: Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
How has the composer of the contemporary text used the earlier text to say something new?
The text Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard can be seen as being a derivative text of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. The two text share similar themes and tone, and the plot of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead revolves around two minor characters from Hamlet. There is however a sense of transformation involved; Stoppard has, in a sense, expanded and further explored the issues involved in Hamlet. Hamlet can be seen as being the inspiration behind Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
The similarities in theme and tone spring mostly from Stoppard’s use of the discussion of death, his portrayal of appearance versus reality and his interpretation of fate and destiny. These themes are discussed in much the same way as in Hamlet, with Stoppard adding originality to the text, Rosencrantz and Gu...