Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are fictional characters from William Shakespeare's play *Hamlet*, later famously explored in the play *Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead* by Tom Stoppard. They are childhood friends of Prince Hamlet, tasked by the king to observe and understand Hamlet's behavior. Throughout the story, they serve as minor yet significant figures who grapple with their lack of control and understanding of events unfolding around them. Their roles highlight themes of fate, free will, and the randomness of life, often emphasizing their confusion and disorientation amid complex political and philosophical dilemmas.