Death might be said to be the main theme of Stoppard’s play, as it is of Shakespeare’s play. How does Stoppard differ in his treatment of this theme?
...eeing it happen- it’s not gasps and blood and falling about- that isn’t what makes death. It’s just a man failing to reappear, that’s all- now you see him now you don’t, that’s the only thing that’s real” (pg 61) this statement made by Guildenstern reflects the way in which Stoppard describes death as simply an absence. In Shakespeare’s time there was a particular belief system which perceived that there was an afterlife and that there was a preordained design to life and death “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends” (Hamlet-Act V ii lines 10-11). In contrast, Stoppards play outlines that in order to have any contentment in life humans must accept the inevitability of death and not to be preoccupied with death and thoughts of the afterlife. Stoppard has also confronted the audience with the theme of death by making the main characters two ordinary people. In Shakespeare’s play the theme of death is brought up within a royal Family context. It is seen as both the cause and the consequence of revenge, it’s also very strongly tied to the theme of revenge and justice e.g. Claudius murder of King Hamlet initiates Hamlet’s quest for revenge and Claudius’ death is the end of that quest. This treatment of the theme of death is different in Stoppards play as it involves 2 ordinary people, not royalty, and these two men are constantly questioning life and ultimately death. Stoppard uses the universal theme of death to unsettle and confront the audience. He does this by involving the audience in the play, an example of this is when Guildenstern remarks “it’s probably dark out there”, this line is delivered towards the audience which directly confronts the audience about the idea that they to are faced with darkness and the inevitability of death. Stoppard pushes the audience to realize and recognize the fact that they will die. He allows the audience to see that they are no more in control of their destiny and death then the 2 characters trapped in his play. The theme of death in Shakespeare is seen as a way to end suffering from the cruel and unfair world Hamlet lives in. It is seen almost like a remedy, a remedy to hamlets problems, and a remedy for serving justice for the murder of his father. Hamlets s...