Response to Course Material

I have to say this month has been one of the most productive of the year! We have finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead which indeed was confusing, however after many days of discussing it in class and reading several articles on it, I think I can finally say I have a good grasp of it and all that happened. Throughout the novel Stoppard used many double meanings and modern techniques that contributed to the overall confusion of the play, however, once we worked through these obstacles it was easier to see what it all meant. Overall modern art is usually difficult to determine an exact meaning of the work, although all art can be interpreted differently, modern art tends to have a  unique challenge to it. The prezi we watched of Fountain by Marcel Duchamp was very interesting. The different opinions of the many spectators was very intriguing for just one simple piece of so called "art." Similar to Duchamp, Stoppard also brought up the question, what is art after all? Can anything be art? After watching this video and thinking back on my experiences at modern art museums, I'm not sure after all we've learned that I would look at the art work the same way. In the past when I have gone to these exhibits I have criticized and rolled my eyes at many simple pieces of "art" that didn't reach my expectations, however now I look back and rethink many of the things I originally dismissed for being uncreative. I think most of the time when I didn't like the art it was because I didn't see the social issue/subject it was applying to overall. I think that was Duchamp's and Stoppard's goal from the beginning, I think although both of their pieces are so simple they meant for their messages and deeper meanings to reach to the people...kinda crazy to think about.
   Anyways, Ros & Guild was a good time and I'm glad I got to experience that, I think we could've discussed it for the rest of the year, however we have to move on...and so on to the next great thing, Ceremony. We haven't done too much with this yet and still have a bit to go, I think this is interesting so far, but I am looking forward to reading on so it'll be more of a complete picture. It's pretty confusing right now too but I think the subject and time era of it is a very important and interesting time of American History. I'm excited to finish it and further discuss it in class! We have also done so more close reading practice, this has been helpful but as always, more practice is always helpful but I think slowly but surely I am getting the hang of it. We also spent some time applying different critical lenses to the previous works we have read. I found this super interesting, especially when we applied it to outside works. There were so many movies and books that I once believed to be romances or tradgedies but after further analyzing them turned out mostly to be ironies.
   That's all for now! Enjoy your the rest of your day! And get pumped for Spring Break!!!! IT'S SO CLOSE!!!!! YAY!!!!

Open Prompts, part Two

2004. Critic Roland Barthes has said, “Literature is the question minus the answer.” Choose a novel, or play, and, considering Barthes’ observation, write an essay in which you analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers answers. Explain how the author’s treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

   In Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, the question of life vs. art is raised yet not completely answered. Stoppard often hints at the question of people's fate in general, and debates how much control one really has over their life. In one sense, people are able to choose their destiny, however in the other light, people's fate is already written for them and they must do what is planned. Throughout the play, Stoppard differentiates between life and art and the difference in control each permits upon people. 

   Throughout the play, the Player and Guildenstern debate over the ideas of life and art. The Player claims he is well aware of all that is going on around him and doesn't understand why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are always questioning the order of things and why they are the way they are. The Player claims to be a full time actor and knows his role in life. The Player is also much more aware of the events that are going to occur in the play and has a better understanding of the things happening around him. The Player than demonstrates that if one is aware of their role and their purpose in life, they are much more aware of what is going on around them and are able to make sense of things. The Player then dedicates his life to acting and lives by a philosophy of understanding your role, playing the part well, and pleasing the audience. On the other hand, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern clearly demonstrate that when stuck between two parts it is impossible to truly identify yourself. 

   Several times throughout the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern forget their name and end up switching. Although somewhat different, these characters are very similar and are both extremely confused throughout the duration of the play. They are unaware of their purpose and goal throughout the play and at times even forget who they are and how they came to be. Unlike the Player, they have no idea what is going on and are even unable to foresee their deaths which is so obvious to others. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern represent the idea of having a predestined fate and having no control over what is going to happen. Whereas, the Player also has a predestined fate, however he is aware of it and because of this he is able to continue as an actor and know of all that's going on. His character brings the point and question to mind of the audience, that if we are all actors, are we just doing things in our life to please others. just going through the actions without realizing it?

   The compelling question wondering who is in truly control of our fate is reinforced several times in the play and causes the audience to reevaluate their own lives. Rosencrantz and Guildentstern's constant misunderstanding of their lives intrigues the readers and audience to question how much they are in control their own lives and how of an understanding they have of the world around them. Stoppard doesn't spell out a clear reasoning as to why or how one has control of his or her lives, but he does portray the significance of it and emphasizes the importance of evaluating oneself every now and then.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Summary & Analysis

Author: Tom Stoppard
   Born in Czechoslovakia, Stoppard is a playwright, in which his themes usually involve human rights, censorship, and political freedom. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern became his first well-known piece and created the term "Stoppardian" referring to the wit and comedy he used while addressing philosophical issues. His use of existentialism, word-playing, and allusion to Hamlet gained him acknowledgement.
   Written in 1964, published in 1967 and won Tony Award for best play in 1968 after being performed on Broadway.

Setting: The entire play takes place on and off of a plain stage, throughout the play this stage represents different locations. Firstly it is a open space in the wilderness, then Elsinore, and then lastly the boat on the way to England. This occurs during the Elizabethan Era which can be concluded from the clothing worn and some of the depictions.

Characters:
   Rosentcrantz- Childhood friend of Hamlet, summoned by the court to find the reasoning of Hamlet's madness. Known as the more oblivious and happier of the two, he is carefree and his aloof attitude essentially represents his fear of his fate.
   Guildenstern- Childhood friend of Hamlet, summoned by the court to find the reasoning of Hamlet's madness. Known to be more analytic, he questions everything but is still not able to easily come to conclusions. He seeks for the meaning of his life and thinks that he has a fairly good grasp and understanding.
   The Player- Leads the Tragedian actors. He's known for his wit, and his awareness of the setting and plot, throughout the play he subtly drops hints of Ros and Guild's fate.
    Tragedians- traveling actors that specialize at dramatic and emotional plays, will perform sexual performances if for the right price and are good at fake dying.
   Hamlet- Prince of Denmark, childhood friend of Ros and Guild. Recently gone mad and others are unaware of the cause. True reasoning is due to his father's recent death (seeks to avenge) and his mother's quick recovery and marriage to his father's brother, Claudius.
   Claudius- Brother to the old Hamlet, now new King of Denmark. Summons Ros and Guild to uncover what is wrong with Hamlet.

Plot:

• Ros and Guild are wandering throughout the woods playing a game of flipping coins. The coin always lands on heads so Ros continues to win, all while Guild considers the rule of probability and the reasoning to this phenomenon. They are on a journey however they cannot remember their task.
• They come across a group of Tragedians. The Player offers to allow Ros and Guild participate in a sexual play, involving the young boy, Alfred, however Ros and Guild are unaware of the Player's intent. Guild invites the Player to play a game of flipping coins and the Player loses and claims he cannot play because the Tragedians don't like the odds. As the Tragedians are leaving Ros grabs the coin and it is tails, saying it was lucky.
• Ros and Guild go to Elsinore where they first witness Ophelia and Hamlet have an argument. They are then welcomed by Claudius. Claudius clarifies that they were sent for to undercover what is wrong with Hamlet and to report it back to him.
• To prepare for meeting Hamlet, Ros and Guild play a game of question and answer, which eventually just confuses them more. They are able to come to the conclusion that Hamlet is upset because his father was murdered and the throne was taken over by his father's brother by marrying Hamlet's mother.
• Ros and Guild meet up with Hamlet, he confuses them with a speech and is interrupted by Polonius announcing the arrival of the Tragedians. Hamlet requests that the players part perform the play the Murder of Gonzago; will portray the situatiom at court. Hamlet then leaves and Ros, Guild, and the Player discuss the reasoning of Hamlet's madness.

• Ros and Guild are alone and Ros brings up the idea of life after death. 
• Ros and Guild overhear Hamlet's soliloquy debating suicide until Ophelia enters, they both exit.
• Hamlet kills polonius and Claudius and Gertrude ask ros and guild to go find the body.
• Ros and guild escort Hamlet on the boat to take him to England. They contemplate what life is and afterlife and afterwards find a letter to be delivered to the king of England that requests the execution of Hamlet. 
• While ros and guild are asleep Hamlet finds the letter and edits it to request the murder of ros and guild instead.
• When ros and guild wake they find the tragedians hiding in barrels running away because Claudius did not like their play. Pirates attack the ship and everyone hides in the barrels.
• The lights go out and the barrel Hamlet was in disappears. Ros and guild reread the letter and are shocked to find what it now says. 
• Ros and guild and the tragedians exit from the barrels and discuss their expertise of dying. Guil stabs the player and he falls to the ground,dead
• A moment later the player rises and everyone is impressed. 
• Ros thinks about why they are condemned to death but eventually gives up and exits. Guild thinks of the messenger who gave the message but then dismisses the thought and claims he'll know better next time and exits.
• The stage is lit and the king of England is announcing the deaths of ros and guild. Dead bodies lie all around the stage and Horatio orders that they are taken care of.

Motifs:

• Lack of identity
• Extientilism
• Death
• Luck/probability
• Games
• Religion

Author's Style:

• Point of View - Told from the view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two confused men on a mission for the court. Due to their lack of understanding of what is happening around them, this forces the reader to draw conclusions from the characters interactions and subliminal hints from the dialogue and minimum stage directions. 
• Tone - The tone is somewhat dreary and unfortunate. The reader is away that the character's are destined to die but have to suffer through the character's obliviousness to their set fate. The character's often discuss death and the unknown giving a dismal feeling.  
• Imagery - There is not much to say about the imagery. The stage decorations and directions are minimal and bare for the most part, there's only enough to get the basics of what is occurring.
• Symbolism - Several objects and things play an important role as a symbol in this play. Many of the things described by Stoppard may be interpreted in many different ways, each time concluding a different meaning. Some of the symbols that most stood out to me include;
• Money and Coins - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern compare their fate to the probability of the coin game they play. Guild is often scared due to understanding the chances when playing the game and applies it to his own life, hence worrying that their is something unfortunate coming for him. 
• The Boat - Ros and Guild compare death to being like a boat, this is ironic because the readers know that the boat is ultimately going to bring Ros and Guild to their deaths. 
• Wind - The wind, especially in the movie is symbolic for direction and lack of a sense of it. When Ros and Guild are trying to determine which way they came to court they try to use the wind direction to figure it out. Later on the Player claims he knows which way the wind is blowing, therefore also meaning he knows what everything means and what is going on. This shows specifically that Ros and Guild are clueless to what is happening.  

Quotes:

1. In that case, the origin. Trace it so its course and it might give us a rough idea of the way we came in--which might give us a rough idea of south, for further reference (59). This clearly displays that Ros and Guild have no sense of direction or a clear understanding of what is going on. I have an urge to conclude something about the mentioning of the direction South using How to Read Lit...however, I don't think in this case the true meaning would apply.
2. Death followed by eternity...the worst of both worlds. It is a terrible thought. (72). Ros and Guild are completely unaware of their fate, they know they will die eventually but not when. They demonstrate the idea that it is better to live at all and be confused then to face the ultimate worst thing, death. 

Theme Statement: 

    Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead differentiates between life and art and states that in life every person has the power to take control of their life and choose their fate, whereas in art one's fate is already determined and one has no control or ability to choose what happens. 

    Stoppard emphasizes this point many times throughout the play by exaggerating Ros and Guild's confusion and unawareness of what is occurring in their lives and in the world around them. The contrast between 

Ros and Guild and the Player is significant and emphasizes theory of life vs art. The characters are aware they are actor's but when they discuss it they are still confused and not exactly sure what their purposes are. The Player shows how a character acts different when he actually knows what is going to occur. The Character's overall represent people in general having a need and desire to know the meaning of life and what their ultimate purpose is. This a compelling topic, life vs. art, and one is not truly able to come to a conclusion on what each of them mean but Stoppard does a good job of using the confused characters to emphasize his opinion.