Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: An Analysis

Bc. Petr Palčík

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Cílem této práce je analýza hry Toma Stopparda Rosencrantz a Guildenstern jsou mrtví s přihlédnutím k filmu a s důrazem na humor, existenciální motivy a postavy. Záměr je určit, jak je těchto motivů dosaženo, do jaké míry vychází z děl Čekání na Godota Samuela Becketta a Proces Franze Kafky, jakým způsobem je postižen text Shakespearovy hry Hamlet za účelem dosažení tématu Stoppardovy hry a jak se postavy Rosencrantze a Guildensterna vyvinuly ve srovnání Shakespearovy předlohy a Stoppardova podání. Poslední kapitola dále zkoumá do jaké míry zůstávají témata Rosencrantz a Guildenstern jsou mrtví nezměněna po přenesení díla z jeviští divadel do kin, s důrazem na úbytek odkazů na Becketta ve filmu a nové scény, které mění možné interpretace divadelní hry.

Abstract:

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead as well as consider the film version with focus on humour, existential motifs and characters. The goal is to establish how are these motifs achieved, to what extent are they based on Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett and The Trial by Franz Kafka, how is Shakespeare's original Hamlet violated in order to achieve the theme of Stoppard's play and how have the characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern evolved when comparing these two characters as presented by Shakespeare and by Stoppard. In addition, the last chapter considers to what extent does the theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead remain unchanged after being transferred from stages of theatres to cinemas with focus on reduction of Beckettian references in the film and new scenes which alter the possible interpretations of the play.

Keywords

Existentialism, determinism, Beckett joke, Tom Stoppard, Samuel Beckett, Franz Kafka, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Waiting For Godot, The Trial

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 3. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 13. 6. 2018
• Supervisor: Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Barbora Kašpárková

Masaryk University

Faculty of Education

Master programme / field:
Teacher Training for Primary and Lower Secondary Schools / Lower Secondary School and Language School Teacher Training in English Language