Here's more information about Guildenstern and Rosencrantz:
Friends of Hamlet: Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are introduced in Act II of the play as close companions of Hamlet. However, their loyalties are called into question when King Claudius and Queen Gertrude ask them to spy on Hamlet and find out the cause of his strange behavior.
Claudius' Messengers: At Claudius' request, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz confront Hamlet and try to get him to confide in them. They urge him to abandon his feigned madness and reveal the reasons for his melancholy. However, Hamlet suspects their true motives and evades their questions.
Hamlet's Mockery: Throughout the play, Hamlet mocks and criticizes Guildenstern and Rosencrantz for their shallowness, conformity, and willingness to serve the king's interests without question. He uses them to highlight his contempt for the court and the hypocrisy of the people around him.
The Play-Within-a-Play: In Act III, Hamlet stages a play within the play called "The Mousetrap," which re-enacts the murder of his father. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are present at this performance and are among the audience members who witness the emotional impact it has on Claudius.
Their Fate: Later in the play, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are sent on a mission to England, accompanied by Hamlet, who suspects that they carry orders for his execution. Hamlet alters the contents of the letter they carry, ensuring their own deaths instead.
Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are often analyzed and interpreted as representatives of conformity, social convention, and the willingness to follow authority without questioning its motives. Their fate also serves to underscore the destructive consequences of deceit and manipulation.