Question

Read the excerpts from hamlet by william shakespeare and rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead by tom stoppard. excerpt 1 [claudius.] . . . something have you heard of hamlet’s transformation; so i call it, since nor the exterior nor the inward man resembles that it was. what it should be more than his father’s death, that thus hath put him so much from the understanding of himself, i cannot dream of: i entreat you both, that, being of so young days brought up with him, and since so neighbour’d to his youth and humour, that you vouchsafe your rest here in our court some little time; so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, whe’r aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, that, open’d, lies within our remedy. excerpt 2 guil we have been briefed. hamlet’s transformation. what do you recollect? ros well, he’s changed, hasn’t he? the exterior and inward man fails to resemble— guil draw him on to pleasures—glean what afflicts him. ros something more than his father’s death— guil he’s always talking about us—there aren’t two people living whom he dotes on more than us. ros we cheer him up—find out what’s the matter— guil exactly, it’s a matter of asking the right questions and giving away as little as we can. it’s a game. How does "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" use Claudius’s speech from "Hamlet"?

Options:
A. As an expression of Claudius’s concern for Hamlet’s situation, highlighting their close relationship
B. As an expression of Claudius’s concern for Hamlet’s situation, highlighting how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can help their friend
C. As a set of instructions rather than an expression of concern, highlighting the characters’ insincerity to Hamlet
D. As a set of instructions rather than an expression of concern, highlighting how much direction Rosencrantz and Guildenstern nee

Answer 1

Stoppard uses Claudius's speech from "Hamlet" in a manipulative context, reflecting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's insincerity and utilitarian approach toward their friend. It serves as instructions rather than genuine concern.

Step-by-step explanation:

In "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by Tom Stoppard, Claudius's speech from "Hamlet" is used pragmatically as a set of instructions rather than as an expression of genuine concern for Hamlet. This highlights the characters' insincerity towards Hamlet. Claudius enlists Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to gather information on Hamlet's peculiar behavior post his father's death, cloaked under the guise of concern. However, their dialogue in Stoppard's adaptation reveals an underlying game-like approach to their mission, indicating they are more focused on completing their task than on helping a friend in need.

Through Stoppard's play, we see an exploration of themes like the nature of performance and the question of authenticity in human relationships. This is depicted through Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's calculated tactics to cheer Hamlet up and uncover the cause of his malaise as per the King's orders rather than true concern. In essence, their discussion of Claudius's directives is manipulative, reflecting their detachment and utilitarian approach to the situation.