This essay will be exploring the themes discussed in Hamlets soliloquy to be or not to be found in the Shakespearean play Hamlet, and the themes discussed in Rosencrantz and Guildensterns exchange about death that begins on page 62 of Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. It will attempt to understand the meaning behind the words of the two texts, and explain the themes that they relate to or present.
Many different themes are presented in Hamlets soliloquy to be or not to be. It discusses suicide; death; and the unknown that lies after death.
In the lines to be or not to be, that is the question: Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms up against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them. Hamlet is considering the idea of suicide and contemplating whether it is better to suffer a life of pain, or instead to end the pain, by killing himself. This obviously tells us that Hamlet is not enjoying life, and is most likely depressed. He questions which of these two choices is nobler in the mind. An inference that can be made from this is that Hamlet wants to do the right (noble) thing, but is very confused and doesnt know what the right thing to do is.
When expressing death, Hamlet refers to sleep. This seems to be an indication that to Hamlet, death, like sleep, is an escape or retreat where Hamlet can be at peace and not have to face his troubles. By sleeping, we have the chance to leave the world as we know it, and enter a world of dreams.
In the lines To sleep, perchance to dream aye theres the rub; for in that sleep of death what dreams may come? Hamlet is expressing his fear of the unknown. For if death were to be like sleep, one would enter a dream-like world after death and Hamlet doesnt know what this world would be like. This uncertainty is a strong reason why Hamlet is reluctant to act upon his suicidal thoughts.
In the exchange about death that takes place from page 62 to page 64 of Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, many themes are also discussed; some of them being similar to ones found in Hamlets to be or not to be soliloquy. These themes include being dead; consciousness and solipsism; the value of life; and the prospect of eternity after death.
When thinking about the idea of being dead, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern imagine themselves as lying in a box with the lid on it. By referring to a box with a lid on it, it can be assumed that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern feel that they would be entrapped by death, which therefore to them is a daunting prospect.
In the lines I mean, youd never know you were ion a box, would you? It would just be like being asleep in a box. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are discussing the themes of consciousness and solipsism. It seems that they have trouble comprehending that in death one doesnt have consciousness, and thus wouldnt know that they were dead. An interesting point to make is that similar to Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also refer to death by being asleep. They do this to help them understand the lack of consciousness associated with death.
In the lines ask yourself, if I asked you straight off Im going to stuff you in this box now, would you rather be alive or dead?, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are indirectly discussing the value of life. They are comparing the value of life with the fear of the unknown eternity after death.
As quoted: naturally youd prefer to be alive. I expect. You could lie there thinking well at least Im not dead. This is showing a great deal of value for thought, and incorporating solipsism by saying that being alive is having the ability to think.
From the lines Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, whens it going to end? and Death followed by eternity the worst of both worlds. It is a terrible thought. It is possible to derive from this Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are quite fearful of death. Also, by saying the worst of both worlds the second world they were referring to is the dream-like world after death.
As can be seen from both texts, they both relate to death and the unknown quantity that lies after death. For Hamlet in to be or not to be, death appears to be an escape or haven from the turmoil that is life, whereas for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, death is the inevitable depressing eternity after life.
It can be seen that both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fear death. This is because death represents the unknown, and they dont know what will happen after they shuffle of this mortal coil.
Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern relate death with sleep. This is as they are both attempting to understand the unknown by relating it to something they understand, such as sleep.
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