The Radio on Hamlet

In the radio program "This American Life," the different versions and productions of Hamlet that have been made around the United States are analyzed. That gets them to a conclusion: the people that you least expect might be the ones who can relate the most to the play. In a specific prison, the production of Hamlet had been set up for a long time, and surprisingly, many prisoners turned up wanting to be actors.

While to normal readers of the Shakespearean play, Hamlet's decision is just a normal decision, the prisoners really understand what it is that Hamlet wanted to do. Hamlet is known for his inaction, but the action he is deliberating doing or not doing is the act of killing someone. Many of these prisoners, who impersonated Hamlet in the play, understand what it is like to be in the verge of killing someone, so they know where Hamlet's indecision comes from. They know how it feels to take the life from someone, even if they might deserve it.

As seen by the people in the radio show, the prisoners have a gift for literary criticism not seen in any other production. One actor specifically understands that if someone hurt your family, you are not going to stop and think about revenge. He has had experience with this type of situation, so he always knew that Hamlet was going to measure up to the task and kill Claudius in the end. For prisoners, the ending of the play was so obvious that it was necessary for them to invent better reasons for Hamlet to kill and to kill Claudius in order for them to be interested.


It was very important for others to see the interpretation of Hamlet given by people who understand where his inaction comes from, because it gives a wider view of the play to audiences who see it as a trivial decision. Yet, Hamlet was also important for the actors themselves. After being in a prison for so long, and growing up in a totally different environment, the literary world opens up thousands of new possibilities for them. Most actors had their own reasons why they were in the play, like finding out that after only passing third grade, they weren't stupid. For others, knowing that being criminals was not the only solution opened their eyes to the idea of wanting to be better persons. Literature has the power of changing people, inspiring in them new opportunities and a different lifestyle.

Hamlet becomes a better play itself when the actors can actually relate the pain Hamlet is going through to their own lives. Hamlet is feeling the same emotions than the prisoners were feeling moments before committing their worst crimes, so while acting, the actors need only remember their past. It helps them get into character, and therefore create a more believable play. As prisoners understand the cowardice in being a criminal, and the unfair advantage that they need to be able to act, they get Hamlet and his hardest decisions.

After all these actors have been through,the play they put on was an amazing performance, in which every actor supported one another and the play was filled with reminiscence from their dark pasts. It is very interesting to see how a play like Hamlet can affect the lives of so many people, opening good doors and closing bad ones. It is also nice what people can do to Hamlet, better understanding the emotions that Shakespeare wanted to get through to the audience. Complimenting each other, prisoners and Hamlet are made to be presented together. That means that the people you would least expect to feel connected to something are the ones who will connect the most.