MDDM: Chapter 48 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

[jbor]

Cyrus wrote:

> But I do have my objections about a possible relation to Rosencrantz and
> Guildenstern, for they are not at all comical characters like Darby and Cope.

Depends on the way the play's directed, I guess. But do check out Tom
Stoppard's play (the movie of it is quite good). And also see _Hamlet_ II ii
where Claudius confuses R & G's names right from the beginning of the scene
and both courtiers go along with their mistaken identities. It's only right
at the end of that conversation that Gertrude very pointedly corrects her
husband's error (II ii 33-34). There's quite a bit of banter and ribaldry
when they meet up with Hamlet at II ii 225-320 as well.
 
> Instead, they are essential to the tragedy and eventually become victims of
> their willing subordination to authority, taking part in a plot which turns
> against them without their knowledge.

But doesn't this sound just a little like Mason and Dixon in their
"Commission" too?  

For an example of stichomythia see the exchange between Hamlet and Gertrude
in her bedchamber:

QUEEN GERTRUDE
    Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

HAMLET
    Mother, you have my father much offended.

QUEEN GERTRUDE
    Come, come, you answer with a idle tongue.

HAMLET
    Go, go, you question with an wicked tongue.
                            (III iv 9-12)

There are more extensive examples of this technique in _Richard III_ IV iv.

best