Today Mrs. Quinet brought up the discussion of colors in Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead". We have discussed the signficance of the color yellow in other pieces of literature this year, like in Eliot's "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." In Prufrock, yellow symbolizes decay and pollution ("The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, / The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes). Guildenstern on page 20 says, "'The colours red, blue, and green are real. The color yellow is a mystical experience shared by everybody'-- demolish." Could his discussion of yellow as a "mystical experience shared by everybody" relate to Eliot's portrayl of yellow in Prufrock?
Collin also mentioned in class that the colors red, green, and blue are the primary colors in science; Guildenstern refers to these as "real" colors. Perhaps he is hinting at the human tendency to regard science as fact rather than a subjective study of the world.
Colors are also mentioned on page 71 when Rosencrantz says, in his discussion of death, "They don't care. We count for nothing. We could remain silent till we're green in the face, they wouldn't come." Guildenstern responds: "Blue, red." What do you all think of this exchange and how it relate to the previous mention of colors? Why isn't yellow mentioned?
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I definitely think if you really analyze the lines regarding color, I am sure you can find a connection between the mentioning of the color yellow in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and in Eliot's work. I think that yellow is used to describe a stagnant situation with little action, which perfectly correlates with the life of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. And possibly the reason that later on in the play when yellow is not mentioned, it could be as if the yellow "fog" and the stagnant life of these characters is disappearing...but I'm really not sure, it's just an idea. Maybe Guildenstern's response is a way of saying that he is aware of the fact that inaction and meaninglessness is surrounding them, but before they might have just never realized it...
At the very end of class, Mrs. Quinet mentioned that the colors red, blue, and green could possibly represent religion. I think it is important for us to consider this idea. On page 71, these colors are mentioned directly preceding Ros's reference to religions. Red, a color that evokes the images of blood, martyrdom, and sacrifice, represents Christianity, while green symbolizes Islam and blue Judaism. Because Stoppard includes three of the world's largest religions in one of Ros's joke-like statements (which happens to be one of the only references to religion in the play) he reveals the tragic, unholy state of religion and how society is disillusioned by it.
I completely forgot that Mrs. Quinet mentioned that color could possibly represent religion. I also think that is a very good analysis because religion plays such an important role in all literature. I think Samantha's explanation of the colors and which religion they go with makes a lot of sense, but I also think we have to remember what Mrs. Quinet said about if Christianity can actually be represented by red? I think it works but the idea that the color of blood represents a religion seems a little harsh to me.
The triad of colors is definitely significant. I think it's interesting that red, green, and blue are the primary colors of science. Like Julia said, Stoppard could be using these colors to represent science and comment on how in a postmodern world science is subjective and might not ever attain real truth.
Also as I've been reading Midnight's Children, I've noticed a lot of colors in this novel as well.
When Guildenstern states "The color yellow is a mystical experience shared by everybody -- demolish," I believe he could be commenting on death. First of all, as mentioned before, the color yellow sometimes symbolizes decay, which can be directly related to humans. Then, an "experience shared by everybody" reminds me of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's discussion on fate. While searching for meaning in life, they discover that the only constant in life is the fact that everyone is eventually going to die or "demolish".
I, like Samantha, believe that the red ,green, blue metaphore symbolizes religion. The color red definitely relates to Christianity (the red wine/blood of Jesus' sacrament to name one among many examples) I also think that Rosencrantz response to Guildenstern could demonstrate yet another example of the randomness and purposelessness depicted in the text. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot draw meaning from anything in the play and therefore it makes sense that Rosencrantz would respond to the color green with red and blue
This color topic has been stuck in my head for a while because I've had trouble interpreting its true meaning but I have another idea. Therefore I would like to extrapolate from my previous statement about how the colors represent the purposelessness of life. Rosencrantz is unable to make any true mental connection with Guildenstern's meaning and responds by simply naming two other opposite colors. Therefore, Stoppard suggests the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, like humanity, is unable to make connection others individuals. Nobody wil ever be able to understand anothers true purpose or intentions front the things they say or the actions they take.
Following up on Chrissy’s comment about color in Midnight’s Children, the colors saffron, white, and green appear frequently during Rushdie’s description of Saleem’s birth. These colors are those of the new flag of the independent India; Rushdie’s repetition of these colors signifies Saleem’s connection to his country.
I also noticed the color blue appear often in Midnight’s Children in connection with Christianity. A young priest preaches to a recent convert: “Blue. All available evidence, my daughter, suggests that Our Lord Christ Jesus was the most beauteous, crystal shade of pale sky blue.” After the woman is incredulous that Christ would be blue, the Bishop proceeds to tell the priest to keep telling the converts that God is blue because Krishna is always depicted with blue skin. This scene is an example of the British attempt to merge Christianity with Hinduism; Rushdie constantly refers to other ways the British have influenced India as well. Earlier we believed red symbolized Christianity, but perhaps the color of Christ is blue, as stated by the priest.
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