Why was Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Killed?

Question

Hamlet never really explains it and i am wondering what other people are thinking.

Answer 1

Aa shell says: Hamlet had a sealed letter he was to deliver when the three of them got to England, instructing the person who got the letter to kill the person who gave it to them. Hamlet snuck a peek, knew that R&G didn't know what the letter said, and fixed it so that they'd be killed instead of him. That's why Claudius was so shocked to see Hamlet back in Denmark--he was sure he'd taken care of him.

Answer 2

We're currently doing this play at my college (GOD IS IT BORING!)







Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are killed, because when they were delivering Hamlet to England, in their "Mock Acting' Of how they will respond to the Royal Family, they open the letter and find out that Hamlet is to be immediately beheaded.





Hamlet, being on the same ship, overheard this. He waited until Rosencrantz and Gildenstern were asleep, he snuck up and replaced the letter with one he doctored up himself.





When they both proceeded to do their "Mock acting" of how they will respond to the royal family once more, they open the second (Hamlet Written letter) and find that he has changed it instead of him being beheaded, they both will.

Answer 3

They delievered a letter that Hamlet was originally to carry. The letter told the recipient to kill whomever delivered the letter (a plot to kill Hamlet).

Answer 4

Because of their god-awful long names. No one could spell either one, therefore, they were killed.