Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead Essay Example for Free

Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead Essay The playwrights Hamlet composed by William Shakespear and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern composed by Tom Stoppard both explore the ideas of appearance versus reality and the puzzling theme of fate and destiny. Both composers employ various techniques related to their specific mediums to convey the misconception that we have control over life. They reflect their composers theme of transformation, which helps to illuminate the difference between deceptive characters and self-deception. Hamlet was published during the Elizabethan era around 1603 in England. The society of the time was very structured with the head of society being the monarchy and strong evidence of a class system. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was first published in 1966 and pre formed in The national Theatre in 1967. The play is a contemporary comedy classic, which was influenced greatly by the era in which it was written. The freedom and openness of the sixties enhanced and added a philosophical angle to the play. The introduction of both texts is different, Hamlet starts on a serious note of his fathers death while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern starts with a rhetorical question about life. The plays also differ on the language that is used as within Hamlet there is much rhymed verse and formal prose however in Rosencrantz and Guilderstern there is alot of comical interplay between the characters coupled with colloquial language intersecting with Hamlet. In comparing the two texts both contain the theme of death and the way that it contrasts life. Although both texts contain the same theme it is dealt with differently in both plays. In Hamlet, Hamlet has an underlying fear of death, although he considers suicide as a release from his pain. His fear comes from the fact that death  is unknown to him and that his father is trapped in purgatory for his sins. This belief in purgatory reflects the strong religious beliefs of the time. However in Rosencrantz an Guildenstern they take a comical look at death using the analogy of life in a box or as a blank eternity Hey you in there get out, whats your name? In both plays there is a common theme of fate and that fate controls our lives and it is a misconception that we control our own lives. While in Hamlet, Hamlet believes that he is in control of his life and that there is a god, on the other hand Rosencrantz and Guildenstern believe firmly that there is no god and that fate is in control and will lead us on our predestined path. Ros do you believe in god? Well, no I cant say that I do. This also reflects the values of the time as in the sixties there was much freedom of ideas and differences were accepting, voicing the idea that god was a misconception in the Elizabethan era would have been unheard of. However with Stoppard writing in the sixties it was an idea that could be freely raised. Both plays also explore the theme of the nature of man where the responded is questioned on whether or not Rosencrantz and Guildenstern live in a world that is better or worse than Hamlets. Stoppard portrays the world that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern live in as a darker one than of Hamlet. The world of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern has much emphasis placed on the violence that exists in their world The Player who recognises R and G as fellow artists makes the most telling comments on the nature of the world and the people that inhabit it. I cant do your love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory theyre all blood, you see. The players specialising in deaths for all occasions embodies the essentially violent nature of the world, which Stoppard reflects. The tragedians represent the decadent moral values of the world that Stoppard sees around. They are willing to prostitute themselves literally and figuratively, for a coin. The Player holds the sheer greed of these characters in check as they scramble for a coin thrown down by Rosencrantz. The player points out that even a single coin has music in it. The repertoire of Tragedians is full of death and human depravity, a repertoire which the Player candidly points out reflects the interests of their audience. The Player suggests that this debasement of society has been going on for a long time in the statement Dont clap to loud its a very Old World. When looking at Shakespears Hamlet in the light of the world that Stoppard describes, we see that despite the amount of death and loss in Hamlet, the characters are very different to R and G. In Hamlet, Hamlet despite his grief and anguish is still able to exclaim What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties in action how like an angel. Shakespear presents an idealistic and romantic view that directly contrasts the ideas of Stoppard who believes that Hamlet is governed by his own primal urges. Another contrast is in Hamlet, while the characters are in the throes of treachery and death they retain their sense of nobility. Laertes after saying he is justly killed by his own treachery asks Hamlet to exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Hamlets reply is similarly brave and generous Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. Thus despite the tragic nature of the play, Hamlet possesses many positives, particularly concerning mans finer qualities, which are brought out, albeit tragically, at the end. Therefore as we move to consider the relationship between texts, we see that they propose quite different views of mans worth, each forcing us to consider whether the other is the more true to  reality. Another theme that that both plays also explore is the idea of freedoms and constraints, this is shown by Stoppard in the way that chaos surrounds R and G and represents a more complex, at least morally and socially, life than in Hamlets time. Hamlet lived within a clearly defined moral order, people lived their lives according to clearly defined rules and social hierarchy. The great historical events of the 20th century had caused great social upheaval, new ways of death and destruction had been invented, it was these uncertainties that affected Stoppards work and it is these ideas that he captured and contrasted with Hamlets certainties. Stoppard takes the approach of showing that the characters in his text have no choice and their actions are predetermined such as stated by the player when referring to destiny It is written where as Shakespears Hamlets characters make choices depending on circumstances and probable reactions. Stoppards characters are actors. Shakespears characters are people. In Stoppards work we are reminded of R and Gs limitations because he intends for us to see them as helpless and innocent. The characters lack of memory, their inability to make decisions that can be acted upon and the symbolism of the boats restrictions are all ways that Stoppard does this. Stoppard wants the responder to see that Times being what they are, people are exploited, used and have little control over there lives and actions even through they believe they do and seem to. The importance of Stoppards work is that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are limited because they are actors that follow a script. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in this way symbolically helpless to choose and change anything, this is why the responder is continually reminded they are watching a play. These ideas contrast Hamlet in the way they ask the responder to consider how little control we have over our lives and whether or not this has changed from Hamlets ordered world.

The Birthmark :: Comparison and Contrast, Hawthorne

Every relationship is different. Weather one may be in a relationship with a boy, or just a friend, it is different. Even though they are different, the characters in â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne and â€Å"IND AFF† by Fay Weldon are in similar relationships. That is, the male is dominant over the female, and the woman thinks the man is her knight in shining armor. In the beginning of â€Å"IND AFF† the unnamed woman thinks her professor, Peter, who she is having an affair with, is her ticket to creating a good thesis and higher standings. Similarly, in â€Å"The Birthmark,† Georgiana thinks her husband is her ticket to flawless beauty because he tells her he will remove her birthmark. Obviously, this is not how relationships operate in today’s society. These two relationships compare and contrast with each other as well as with relationships in today’s day-and-age. â€Å"IND AFF† takes place in Sarajevo, which is where Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. This is a key aspect to the story because Peter is superb in history and thinks that he knows everything there is to know about history. Likewise, â€Å"The Birthmark† takes place in a laboratory. This is where the Georgiana’s husband, Aylmer, spends most of his spare time. Aylmer thinks he either knows or will be able to discover everything this is to know about science. So, in each story, the man takes the woman to somewhere he knows more about (and is therefore seen as superior) than she does. In both stories, the man is seen as intelligent. In â€Å"IND AFF† Peter says he is a professor of classical history and has a â€Å"first-class mind† (Weldon page 202). In â€Å"The Birthmark† Aylmer is referred to as â€Å"a man of science† (Hawthorne page 416) and a â€Å"genius† (Hawthorne page 423). Like the men, the women have similarities and differences. For example, in the beginning of both stories, the women seem confident in themselves. Then, the men tell them otherwise. In â€Å"IND AFF,† Peter tells the woman she does not have a first-class mind (Weldon 202). In, â€Å"The Birthmark† Georgiana is accepting of her birthmark and in fact comes to think of it as a touch from an angel (Hawthorne page 417). Then, her husband tells her birthmark is nature’s slightest possible defect (Hawthorne page 417).

Theseus’ Ship

The Ancient Identity Crises The transitivity of identity is a question often contemplated by philosophers through philosophical puzzles of change. A popular version of the puzzle includes a man named Theseus and his ship. A ship in which has undergone a gradual change where all of the lumber was replaced by the new cargo of lumber it carried. The question then remains, is this still the original ship of Theseus? Philosopher John Locke attempts to answer this question by stating that identity is a subjective matter rather than objective.He begins by separating the idea of a substance, organism, and a person and the different criteria used to determine each type of identity. Naturally we would agree with Locke that a ship is a not a living thing capable of thought and assume that it can only be talked about in reference to matter. However, Locke proposes that a substance like the Ship of Theseus can be talked about with reference to a conscious subject’s beliefs towards it.This is based off the fact that a concept of the ship’s identity could not exist without human consciousness. Locke also provides a further suggestion that two things should not be questioned as whether or not they’re simply the same. The reason for this being that criteria differs among concepts so we must be careful in specifying â€Å"the same what† when making comparisons. Therefore, Locke concludes that the idea belonging with the ship is the identity of the ship itself.In other words, identity is a relative aspect rather than absolute, one that heavily depends on context. Identity can be defined as the distinct characteristics by which something is recognized. In other words, identity is an idea created by and for people and does not exist without them. This directly links with Locke’s idea of relative identity, as the perception of an idea is a relative concept depending on what, where, when, and whom you are asking.We must also keep in mind that just b ecause things are qualitatively identical in sharing similar properties, it may not mean they are numerically identical as one and vice versa. It is ultimately up to whomever is answering the question from what angle to declare an objects identity. In this case, I will present a variety of explanations to the identity of Theseus’ ship through different contexts. In the context of defining a ship, the change in lumber does not interfere with the necessary criterion of the preconceived notion of a ship.Though Theseus’ ship has undergone a qualitative change through the replacement of lumber, it still remains the same ship by definition of a large vessel that carries goods or people over sea. So the ship may not be qualitatively identical to the old one but numerically the same because it serves the same purpose as Theseus’ ship over time. Now, consider another context where after Theseus ceases to exist, somebody purchases and moves this ship onto land to serve an d sell dinner on deck.It’s then safe to say that the object does not meet the conditions of a ship, despite being qualitatively identical. Instead, the object now serves the purpose of a restaurant, causing it to retain a new identity without losing any parts at all. However, the context changes once again when we begin to consider the identity of the ship in relation to Theseus. Despite the gradual changes, there has only ever been one beginning to Theseus’ ship, so we can assume that he has no problem claiming it as his own.But what happens when the old, original lumber is collected and used to build a qualitatively similar ship? There are now two ships that share similar properties instead of one ship that is qualitatively different, yet numerically the same over time. Theseus must then claim one ship to be the original based on the criteria he has of how his vessel should be constituted. His predetermined opinion on what conditions must be met in order for either o f the ships to be the original is what essentially establishes the identity of the old ship.In this situation, I can agree with Locke that though the old lumber is being used, the ship is still being created from a new beginning, rendering it a new ship. Though it can then be argued that if both ships match Theseus’ criteria of the original ship, this does not make it possible for them to be one numerical identity as they are clearly two. By analyzing the various contexts above, it causes us to consider identity as grey matter rather than just a simple black and white answer.It also begins to make it clear that identity is an issue of semantics and epistemology, rather than a metaphysical one. However, while the belief of an idea within a specific circumstance is important in constituting an identity, it becomes difficult to say what is true in a world of many different perceptions. That’s when semantics might be able to step in to sort out the problem of subjectivity. Still, it’s visible that identity is a relative concept that relies on perception and context rather than something that is absolute.

Christopher Columbus New Trade Routes Essay - 2254 Words

Christopher Columbus was determined to find new trade routes to India and so, in 1492, after gaining permission he set out in order to accomplish this task. However, what Christopher Columbus would actually encounter was not new trades routes to India, but a whole â€Å"new† world. What exists, however, when you travel to a new country is the possibility of a language barrier between you and the native individuals. This barrier existed when Christopher Columbus first made contact with the native indigenous inhabitants. Luckily, letters from Columbus’s first voyage have survived, and have offered a look into his encounters with the different languages of the indigenous people. Through his accounts a question arises: how does Christopher Columbus describe language and communication is his late 15th century letters? In this essay, I will discuss how Columbus’s use and description of language and communication was a way to show superiority among those Indigenous peop le he encountered. Having set sail in early August of 1492, it took Columbus and his crew around two months until they would â€Å"discover† land around early October. It is in the early instances of contact that Columbus shows signs of superiority through language. When he encounters an island, one of the first actions Columbus takes is to claim and name the island. From his journal entry on October 15th, Columbus and his crew encounter a piece of and Columbus writes, â€Å"From this island I sighted another larger one to theShow MoreRelatedBiography of Chirstopher Columbus1081 Words   |  4 Pages Christopher Columbus was born in the republic of Genova, Italy on October 31st, 1451. Christopher Columbus made three voyages to different parts of the world. He was a navigator and an explorer, knowing his waters really well. Columbus experiences many life threatening events on his journeys, however he was a strong man and usually came back alive. 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