Messenger's News From England: End Of Play Explained
At the climactic end of Shakespeare's Hamlet, a messenger's arrival from England brings a pivotal announcement that significantly impacts the remaining characters and resolves several plot threads. This news is not merely a casual update; it's a confirmation of the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's former friends turned spies for Claudius. Understanding the full implications of this event requires delving into the context of their mission, Hamlet's actions, and the overarching themes of justice and revenge within the play.
The Messenger's Arrival and Announcement
The messenger arrives amidst the chaos of the final scene, where a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, orchestrated by Claudius, has gone horribly wrong. Everyone is dying: Gertrude has drunk poison intended for Hamlet, Laertes has confessed his treachery and fatally wounded Hamlet with a poisoned sword, and Hamlet has finally killed Claudius in a furious act of revenge. It's a scene of utter devastation, with bodies strewn across the stage and the remaining characters grappling with the horrifying consequences of their actions. Amidst this carnage, the messenger's arrival might seem almost anticlimactic, yet his words carry significant weight. He announces, with formal gravity, that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. This news is delivered succinctly, without embellishment, leaving the audience to fully grasp its implications.
This announcement serves multiple dramatic purposes. Firstly, it confirms the success of Hamlet's plan to subvert Claudius's orders. Hamlet, having discovered the letter carried by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that instructed the King of England to execute him, replaced it with a forged letter ordering the execution of the two courtiers instead. The messenger's news verifies that Hamlet's alteration was successful, and his former friends have indeed met their end. Secondly, the news underscores the theme of poetic justice that runs through the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who willingly betrayed their friend Hamlet to curry favor with Claudius, ultimately fall victim to the very treachery they embraced. Their deaths serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of moral compromise and the dangers of serving a corrupt regime. Finally, the messenger's announcement contributes to the overall sense of closure at the play's end. With the major characters dead and the fate of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern confirmed, the audience can begin to process the tragedy and contemplate the themes explored throughout the play.
Context: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's Mission
To fully appreciate the significance of the messenger's news, it's essential to understand the role Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play in the unfolding drama. These two characters are childhood friends of Hamlet who are summoned to Elsinore by Claudius to discover the cause of Hamlet's apparent madness. Claudius, suspicious of Hamlet's behavior and fearing a potential threat to his throne, enlists Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on their former friend and report back any useful information. Their willingness to betray Hamlet highlights their opportunistic nature and their willingness to prioritize personal gain over loyalty and friendship.
Throughout the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to ingratiate themselves with Hamlet, feigning concern for his well-being while secretly gathering information for Claudius. Hamlet, however, quickly recognizes their true intentions and becomes increasingly distrustful of them. He sees through their facade of friendship and understands that they are merely pawns in Claudius's game. This realization fuels Hamlet's growing cynicism and contributes to his sense of isolation and betrayal. Their mission to uncover the source of Hamlet's madness ultimately fails, as Hamlet skillfully evades their attempts to probe his thoughts and feelings. However, their continued presence at court and their unwavering loyalty to Claudius make them complicit in the King's treachery and mark them as targets for Hamlet's revenge.
Hamlet's Intervention and the Forged Letter
The turning point in the story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern comes when Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England, ostensibly for his own safety. However, Claudius secretly sends a letter with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instructing the King of England to execute Hamlet upon his arrival. This act reveals the full extent of Claudius's malice and his determination to eliminate Hamlet, whom he sees as a threat to his power. While at sea, Hamlet discovers the letter and, realizing the danger he is in, cleverly replaces it with a forged letter ordering the execution of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead. This act demonstrates Hamlet's resourcefulness and his willingness to take decisive action to protect himself and exact revenge on his enemies.
The forged letter is a crucial plot device that underscores the themes of deception and manipulation that permeate the play. Hamlet's act of forgery mirrors Claudius's own treachery and highlights the moral ambiguity that characterizes the world of Elsinore. By subverting Claudius's plan and turning it against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet demonstrates his growing ability to navigate the treacherous political landscape and to use cunning and deception to achieve his own ends. The fact that Hamlet is willing to sacrifice his former friends to save his own life also raises questions about the nature of justice and revenge, and whether the ends justify the means.
Thematic Significance: Justice, Revenge, and Fate
The deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, confirmed by the messenger's arrival, resonate with several key themes in Hamlet. The most prominent of these is the theme of justice. Their demise can be interpreted as a form of poetic justice, where characters receive the consequences of their actions. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who willingly participated in Claudius's schemes and betrayed their friend, ultimately meet a fate similar to that which they intended for Hamlet. This reinforces the idea that actions have consequences and that those who engage in treachery and deceit will eventually face retribution.
Revenge is another central theme illuminated by the fate of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. While Hamlet's primary focus is on avenging his father's murder, his actions against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can also be seen as a form of revenge. They represent the corrupting influence of Claudius's court and the betrayal of friendship, and Hamlet's decision to send them to their deaths can be interpreted as a way of cleansing the court of its moral decay. However, the play also raises questions about the morality of revenge and whether it ultimately leads to further violence and suffering. Hamlet's pursuit of revenge consumes him and contributes to the overall tragedy of the play, suggesting that revenge is a destructive force that can have devastating consequences.
Finally, the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern touch upon the theme of fate. Their demise can be seen as a predetermined outcome, a consequence of their involvement in the events set in motion by Claudius's actions. The play suggests that characters are often trapped by circumstances beyond their control and that their destinies are shaped by forces larger than themselves. The fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are ultimately victims of fate underscores the sense of tragedy and inevitability that pervades the play.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the news brought by the messenger from England at the end of Hamlet – the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – is far more than a simple plot point. It serves as a confirmation of Hamlet's actions, highlights the theme of poetic justice, and contributes to the overall sense of closure at the play's end. By understanding the context of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's mission, Hamlet's intervention, and the thematic significance of their deaths, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the complexities and nuances of Shakespeare's masterpiece. The announcement underscores the play's exploration of justice, revenge, and fate, reminding us of the consequences of moral compromise and the destructive power of treachery and deceit. So next time you think about the play, remember those two and the final message that sealed their doom!