This is an essay I submitted in my college in the high school English Literature class on the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard, a parallel story of side characters in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." It dives mostly into the philosophy of existentialism. Guildenstern as an Existentialist Ever wondered why some books make you think long after you've put them down? Driven by the complex and philosophical world of existentialism, Tom Stoppard's play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead," portrays the character of Guildenstern as an existentialist throughout the play. Existentialism, which can be very difficult to capture in a single sentence, dives into ideas that revolve around absurdity and the meaninglessness of existence. Existentialists often try to create a purpose in this life otherwise devoid of meaning. Guildenstern practices existentialism through his somewhat go-getter personality and his never-ending quest for answers. Ultimately, these characteristics solidify his classification as an existentialist character within literature. Soren Kirkegaard, deemed by many to be a pioneer of existentialism, was a philosopher who lived in the mid 1800s. “Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kirkegaard” is a collection of Kirkegaard’s works. Among those essays is a piece called “The Road is How,” which delves into the common “road” that all humans walk along throughout life. He explains how we each make different decisions while traversing it, and we each end up at varying finish lines. “Yes, there were five travelers who walked ‘along the same road,’ and yet each one walked his own road” (57). Kirkegaard, referring to the biblical story of “The Good Samaritan” explains how each of the travelers passing the robbed man walked along the same physical road, but each made different decisions and judgements. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are inseparable throughout the play, and are rarely seen apart from each other. These two characters walked along the exact same physical road, but each made different decisions and judgements along the way. Despite walking the same physical road, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern differ in their responses to the unexplainable, as seen in their interpretation of the coin always landing on heads. Rosencrantz pushes this absurdity aside and regards it simply as luck. Guildenstern, on the other hand, pursues a definite answer of why exactly this coin seems unable to land on tails. He tries to find answers by coming up with possibilities, no matter how absurd, that the coin lands on heads each time. Guildenstern lists many possibilities, however, here are the first three: “One: I’m willing it... Two: time has stopped dead, and the single experience of one coin being spun once has been repeated ninety times... Three: divine intervention” (Stoppard 16). He explains these possibilities to Rosencrantz fully knowing the absurdity of them and that there is a very low chance that any given possibility is their current reality. Kirkegaard's explanation of everyone’s unique journey along life's spiritual road, connected with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's peculiar circumstances, shows how Guildenstern is an existentialist. Another way Guildenstern shows existentialist themes is through his never-ending questioning and pursuit of understanding in a world that often seems irrational and unpredictable. Throughout the play, Guildenstern questions the absurdity of situations, always looking for explanations for events that defy any logical explanation. In an overview of a book called “Existentialism for Dummies,” authored by Christopher Ganza and Gregory Gale, it states that you alone are responsible for creating a purpose for yourself, and “Human beings exist first, and only later define themselves” (2-3). His persistence in finding answers in the various random occurrences he and Rosencrantz encounter reflects an existentialist mindset, as he doesn’t want to accept the chaos and disorder around him. This is shown in his dialogue with the Player towards the end of the book, “But why? Was it all for this? Who are we that so much should converge on our little deaths? Who are we?” (Stoppard 122). Guildenstern's little existential crisis here highlights the human desire to find significance and meaning in a world that sometimes appears to ignore our existence, which further solidifies his portrayal as an existentialist character in literature. In conclusion, Guildenstern is portrayed as an existentialist character in Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead." Through his persistent pursuit of understanding when confronted with absurd occurrences and his never-ending questioning of the meaning behind life's randomness, Guildenstern shows that he is an existentialist in the world of literature. Connecting with the works of Soren Kirkegaard, Guildenstern's journey along the same physical road as Rosencrantz, yet making different decisions and judgments, can be interpreted from a philosophical viewpoint, rather than simply a literary viewpoint. His refusal to accept chaos and disorder while simultaneously trying to find purpose in his life makes it clear to the reader that he possesses existentialist traits. As such, Guildenstern's characterization as an existentialist figure gives the reader insight into themes connecting philosophy with literature, showing readers how to think more deeply and the search for meaning among the often confusing maze of life. Works Cited Panza, Christopher, and Gregory Gale. Existentialism for Dummies. Hoboken, Nj, Wiley Publishing, Inc, 2008. Søren Kierkegaard. Provocations. Plough Publishing House, 1999, pp. 55–57. Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. New York, NY, Grove Press, an Imprint of Grove Atlantic, 2017.

Next fall I plan to attend Washington State University to study either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. I have plenty of experience building and repairing computers, as well as have taken Computer Science courses at my high school. I have built my own desktop computer and have repaired it, as well as friends' and family's computers. My interest in computers started when I was in middle school, when my older brother passed down his laptop from when he was in high school. Curiosity got the best of me, and I unscrewed the back plate to see what was inside of this seemingly simple computing machine. When I revealed the intricate system of circuit boards and wires and fans, I was immediately blown away. I had one question: How on earth does this work? I took it upon myself to find out. Two years later, and a lot of growth, I decided to build my own PC. So, I set aside a paycheck from my summer job at an ice factory and ordered up all the parts. After watching hours of guiding YouTube videos, I figured I was ready to take up the challenge. And guess what? The very same PC is what I am typing this essay on right now.

Since a very young age, I have always been extremely connected to maps. While on road trips with my family, I could be found with my face buried in our battered Rand McNally Road Atlas. By the age of 10, I had memorized each U.S. state's capital and would beg for my brothers to test me on it. Even to this day I catch myself roaming for hours on Google Earth, mindlessly wandering around the digital globe, clicking on the little randomizer button, bringing me to a new interesting part of the world. Geography, although I very much enjoy studying it, is not part of my future plans. Next fall I plan to attend Washington State University to study either Computer Science or Computer Engineering. I have plenty of experience building and repairing computers, as well as have taken Computer Science courses at my high school. I have built my own desktop computer and have repaired it, as well as friends' and family's computers. My interest in computers started when I was in middle school, when my older brother passed down his laptop from when he was in high school. Curiosity got the best of me, and I unscrewed the back plate to see what was inside of this seemingly simple computing machine. When I revealed the intricate system of circuit boards and wires and fans, I was immediately blown away. I had one question: How on earth does this work? I took it upon myself to find out. Two years later, and a lot of growth, I decided to build my own PC. So, I set aside a paycheck from my summer job at an ice factory and ordered up all the parts. After watching hours of guiding YouTube videos, I figured I was ready to take up the challenge. And guess what? The very same PC is what I am typing this essay on right now. I come from multiple generations of veterans. My grandfather fought for our country in the Vietnam War during the 1960s. My father entered the Marine Corps in 1985 and spent 4 years in service. He spent 3 years stationed in Pendleton, California, and 1 year in Okinawa, Japan. He was the point man in the Camp Pendleton SWAT team, as well as being a squad leader in boot camp. He also spent time as a Military Police Officer in Pendleton and Okinawa. I am extremely proud of what my family has done for our country. This affects me today because my father has instilled values and beliefs into me growing up. My father is the reason I am who I am today, and for that, I am forever grateful.