ThAct: CS - Hamlet

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

This blog is written for a task from Prof. Dilip Barad. It explores marginalized characters through Cultural Studies, viewing them as similar to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet. For more information, you can refer to the article linked below.   Teacher's blog  

Marginalization in Hamlet:

Q. 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?

Ans: 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are great examples of characters in Hamlet who are treated as unimportant. They are used by powerful characters in the play—especially by King Claudius and Hamlet—without anyone caring about what happens to them. The way people often mix up their names shows how little they matter as individuals.

When Hamlet calls Rosencrantz a "sponge," it perfectly describes their role. Just like a sponge soaks up water and can be squeezed dry, these characters soak up the king's favor but are thrown away when they’re no longer useful. This comparison shows how disposable they are in the power structure of the court.

Hamlet: . . . Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! What

replication should be made by the son of a king?

Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

Hamlet: Aye, siq, that soaks up the King's countenance,

his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the King

best service in the end. He keeps them, like an ape, in the

corner of his jaw, first mouthed, to be last swallowed.

when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeez-

ing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

Their deaths at the end of the play are barely noticed—they’re just discarded like used sponges. This shows how powerful people in the play see those beneath them as completely replaceable. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s story is a warning about how dangerous it can be to get involved in the games of powerful people. Those with less power often end up being used and sacrificed without a second thought.

Modern Parallels to Corporate Power:

 Q. 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 displacementexperienced by workers when multinational companies relocate or Downsize?

Ans:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet are treated similarly to how some modern corporate workers are treated. Just as these characters are used and discarded by the powerful in the Danish court, many workers today face job losses when big companies make decisions for profit, like relocating operations or cutting jobs.

When Hamlet calls Rosencrantz a "sponge" that can be squeezed dry and thrown away, it reflects how modern workers sometimes feel—as if they’re just resources to be used and replaced. Company executives, like the powerful figures in Hamlet, often make these decisions without considering the impact on the workers' lives. Just as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s deaths are barely noticed, individual workers in a corporate setting can feel overlooked and replaceable.

Existential Questions in Stoppard’s Re-interpretation:

Q. 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?

Ans :

In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Stoppard shows these characters as lost and confused. They keep wondering who they are and what they’re supposed to do, but they never get clear answers. This is similar to how many people feel in big companies today.

Think about office workers in large companies. They might feel lost, unsure if their work really matters, and unable to control big decisions that affect their lives. Just like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can’t figure out their place in the story around them, many employees feel stuck in a system they don’t fully understand or have any power to change.

The way Rosencrantz and Guildenstern search for meaning in a world that doesn’t seem to care about them is like how workers try to find purpose in their jobs even when they feel replaceable. Both the characters in the play and modern workers are trying to find meaning and purpose, even though they feel small and unimportant in a bigger system that seems not to notice them.

Cultural and Economic Power Structures:

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

Ans:

Shakespeare and Stoppard both show how powerful systems treat ordinary people unfairly, but they do it in different ways. In Hamlet, Shakespeare shows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as pawns—small people who are used and thrown away by those in power. This is like when big companies lay off workers without caring about their lives.

In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Stoppard goes further by showing how it feels to be powerless. The characters are confused and scared, trying to understand their purpose, like modern workers who worry about losing their jobs and feel lost in big companies. When companies downsize or move, workers often feel the same helplessness and confusion that these characters feel.

Both works highlight how big systems (like royal courts or modern corporations) often ignore the needs of regular people. Stoppard's version especially connects with today’s workers because it shows the emotional impact of feeling powerless and replaceable in a system that can’t be controlled.

Personal Reflection:

 Q.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.

Ans:

In the power struggle between Hamlet and his uncle Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern serve as “disposable assets”—used by the King to further his own ends until their eventual deaths. This mirrors how modern corporations often treat employees, valuing them solely for their productivity and then discarding them when they’re no longer considered useful. Young employees are seen as resources to maximize, but as age or other factors reduce their "value," they’re frequently let go with little regard for their loyalty or years of service. This reflects a profit-centered, utilitarian approach in corporations, where profits come before people, and employees are seen as interchangeable parts instead of individuals.