| Hamlet - Rosenkrantz and Gildernstern are dead. |
[Jul. 6th, 2008|04:15 pm] |
Their death proves their relative lack of guilt.
Breaking this down slowly, as people in the class had trouble grasping this.
Ros and Gil are fairly ambiguous figures. We could interpret them as Hamlet does - adders and all that. Or, they might be Hamlet's true friends, merely concerned about his sanity, taking orders from a rightful king they have no reason to suspect. We "can't be certain" until the moment of their death which is the case.
But their deaths serve to acquit them. The one thing that may truly pain them as Claudius' co-conspirators and murderous pawns would be awareness of the orders in the letter Claudius sends with them – orders for Hamlets execution.
Now, we are reminded that the letter is SEALED when the duo receives it. But they may still be aware of the orders within. Perhaps Claudius tells them.
Except, if that was the case, they would have no reason to deliver the letter in England, as Hamlet is no longer there to be hanged. Having them deliver the letter (signing their death warrant) is the final prove of their relative innocence. One that Hamlet curiously ignores while describing his plan to acquit himself of the two, even though it is a glaring flaw. Just one more example of Hamlet's blindness. |
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