Marginalization in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

 Thinking Activity: 

Exploring Marginalization in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

This blog is a part of thinking activity assigned by Professor Dr.Dilip Barad Sir which is based on Cultural studies.

1. Marginalization in Hamlet 

o Describe how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern represent marginal figures in Hamlet. How does Hamlet’s reference to Rosencrantz as a “sponge” reflect their expendability in the power dynamics of the play?

Response : 

In Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are depicted as minor characters with little power or agency. They are used by King Claudius to spy on Hamlet, showing their lack of independence and purpose. Hamlet calling Rosencrantz a "sponge" highlights how easily they are used and discarded by those in power. Just like a sponge absorbs and is later squeezed dry, these characters serve Claudius’ needs until they are no longer useful, at which point they are cast aside, eventually leading to their deaths.

2. Modern Parallels to Corporate Power 

o The passage compares Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to modern workers impacted by corporate downsizing and globalization. Reflect on this parallel: How does their fate in Hamlet mirror the displacement experienced by workers when multinational companies relocate or downsize? 

Response: 

The fate of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the play can be likened to modern-day workers affected by corporate downsizing or globalization. Just as these characters are manipulated by the king and then discarded, employees today can feel like expendable resources when companies relocate or cut jobs to save money. These workers, much like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, often have little control over their fate, being moved around like chess pieces by those in Power.

3. Existential Questions in Stoppard’s Re-interpretation  

o In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Stoppard deepens their marginalization by questioning their existence and purpose. Why might Stoppard emphasize their search for meaning in a world indifferent to them? How does this mirror the feeling of powerlessness in today’s corporate environments?

Response :

In Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the characters are even more marginalized as they question the meaning of their existence. Stoppard focuses on their confusion and lack of control over their lives, highlighting the existential crisis of trying to find meaning in a world that seems indifferent. This mirrors the sense of powerlessness that many people today experience in large corporations where they feel like insignificant parts of a much larger, impersonal machine. 

4. Cultural and Economic Power Structures 

o Compare Shakespeare’s treatment of power in Hamlet to Stoppard’s reimagining. How does each work critique systems that marginalize “little people”? How might Stoppard’s existential take resonate with contemporary issues of job insecurity and corporate control?

Response :

Both Shakespeare and Stoppard critique how those in power marginalize the "little people." In Hamlet, the focus is on how kings and princes use others for their own ends, while Stoppard shifts the focus to existential and philosophical questions, relevant to modern issues like job insecurity. Stoppard’s portrayal resonates with today’s world, where workers can feel powerless in the face of corporate decisions that prioritize profits over people.

5. Personal Reflection 

o How does the marginalization of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet relate to the modern experience of being seen as a dispensable “asset”? Reflect on how these parallels shape your understanding of Cultural Studies and power dynamics.

Response :

The way Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are treated in Hamlet as expendable reflects how some employees are seen in modern companies—as disposable "assets" rather than people with value. This realization deepens our understanding of Cultural Studies by showing how power structures can marginalize individuals, whether in literature or in real life. It reveals the harsh reality of power dynamics, where the less powerful are often at the mercy of those who control resources and decisions.