elings of boredom. This use of repetition by the characters occurs very often throughout the plays. By repeating each other it shows that the characters are similar, but also that they are dependent upon each other for thoughts. It shows a likeness between Rosencrantz and Vladimir and also a similarity between Guildenstern and Estragon. The later two are the wisest of the pairs, while the prior two are the followers and pretty much the dullest of the characters. Stoppard and Beckett also share common themes in these two plays. The unpredictability of life and the power of chance as well as the hopelessness of existence are the two major themes these two plays share. In Stoppard's work chance is the main force in ones life. This is evident right from the very beginning of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The coin tossing scene that takes place sets the entire atmosphere of the play. A force definitely has control over the events that occur in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's lives. Guildenstern's losing at the coin toss and the fact that fate plays a part implies that a person has no control over the forces of chance. Beckett shows that chance is a part in one's life but the hopelessness of existence cancels out any benefit that a person may gain from it. They both feel that chance, not the individual, determines what happens during the course of one's life. Stoppard knew that, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, we are all just minor people in the whole game of life. Their life philosophy is very like the one Beckett created in Waiting for Godot. Just like in Godot, two characters are placed in an open space to find a meaning to their existence. Waiting for Godot and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead both have references to an unseen audience. The characters in these plays show a fear of falling out of sight. The Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead explains: " You don't understand the humiliation ...
