u/Late-Purchase-1589

Dear Dr. Greenblatt:

I presume on a minute or two of your time because I may have discovered another layer of the onion that is Hamlet - minor, perhaps, but quintessentially the work of the Bard. Like me, you have probably never succeeded in over-estimating Shakespeare's genius at word-play; nor his seeming irrepressibility at undertaking it.  The enigma that is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern has been much examined: the boys' cringy behavior, their foppish badinage, their toady amorality. The author's intent as to their sexual proclivities has been mooted, I gather, and generally thought to be unpersuasive. Yes, no? But, of course, our contemporary delicacy about such things makes the whole question precarious (and so much the better, for the sake of our society, we can probably all agree.) But Shakespeare, as transcendent of his time as he could certainly be, was free of any such compunction. Our boy skewered any species of sexual behavior with unalloyed glee! So - I am almost there - as to the names he chose for our epicene sycophants"

There is agreement in the the community of Shakespeare exegesis that surnames of contemporaneous Danish nobility would be vaguely recognized by theater-goers as authentic. An observation as accurate, perhaps, as it is insipid; but a total FAIL for recognition of the spectacular drollery of the Master's sly magic with words. And here we are:

Translation of the German roots of Rosencrantz, with a deft sleight in the magical hands of Shakespeare, becomes "rosy wreath"; even "little pink ring."

Similar treatment of Guildenstern employs an English connotation of the second element to come out with a giggle as "golden rear" or, more bawdily and Bard-like, as "golden ass."

Shakespeare's characterization of the bros is unambiguous. Hamlet and Horatio certainly suffer no misapprehension about which way these blokes swing. They cackle over an unkind jibe at R and G as readily as they lampoon Polonius, Osric, the grave-diggers ... Come on, sports fans, lighten up and enjoy the brilliant wit in the spirit of its history. And, one final admonition: NEVER sell the Master short. If there is word-play to be had, at however many possible levels, William Shakespeare is already way ahead of us!

If you have had the patience to wade through this modest argument, my great thanks, Dr. Greenblatt. I'd receive your critical response with pure delight.

Ted Jean