... exactly what Stoppard wanted: he has avoided coherence at all costs. The comic scenes undercut the solemn scenes, which undercut the absurd scenes. Hamlet considers committing suicide, then spits into the wind, hitting himself in the eye, then happily sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths. In the ... In fact, one would have no idea what was going on in Stoppard's play without a good understanding--a complex, analytical understanding, even--of Hamlet. The artificiality of the play is one of its major characteristics: we can never suspend our disbelief, because we know we are...

• Word Count: 3860
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School

... to reveal everything about their purpose at the castle. Rosencrantz derisively points out how useless their practice with the game of Questions had been. They discuss Hamlet's famous statement, "I am but mad north-northwest. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw." They begin to reason ... him that they do. He then comes on stage as Lucianus, nephew to the poisoner-King. The Player, as Lucianus, acts the part of Hamlet: he staggers around the stage, weeping, raging, and murdering a "Polonius" figure. Throughout the pantomime, he describes what he is doing to Rosencrantz...

• Word Count: 4316
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School