Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern old friends anxious to help him or willing tools of Claudius for profit and patronage"

It is very hard to judge the personalities and motives of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as we never see them interact with each other alone. All of their lines are said in the presence of people they cannot be wholly honest to. They cannot speak freely to Claudius and Gertrude, for they are king and queen. Nor can they speak freely to Hamlet, for they are spying on him. None the less, I believe that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are neither anxious friends nor tools. They are simply two men who used to be well acquainted with Prince Hamlet and are loyal subjects to the Danish Crown. They are happy to serve their sovereigns especially since they were promised a reward by the Queen herself - Your visitation shall receive...