Can Hamlet Change?

As I might have mentioned once or twice in previous posts, Hamlet can be interpreted in many different ways. Basically, it could be anything. If you were to listen to this radio program you would know exactly what I mean.

Hamlet in prison. It's not just Hamlet in prison, though: it's prisoners in prison performing Hamlet in prison! Yay!

It's funny to think about how murderers are acting as murderers. A moment where, for once, seeming is equal to being.

As murderers, our fellow inmates can make connections from the play to their own lives, making the experience of performing in Hamlet all the more interesting and self-reflecting. They can relate the acting with what they have each done in the past.

While these people perform, they are not themselves, but rather the actual characters from Hamlet. Sort of like a vacation from reality. However, when the play is over, inevitably, they return to their reality in jail.

This reminds me of the comparison between American prisons and prisons somewhere in Europe (I forget where it was. I think it was Norway.).

In America, the point of prison is to punish one for his deeds, spending some crap-quality time in there. Your inmates beat you for being the 'new guy', your bed is harder than concrete (or is concrete), the walls and toilet is as dirty as they can be, and the food resembles the stuff that come out of your... Uh... Closet. You get my point.
On the other hand, the Norwegian prison is like a five star hotel: Ping pong, bubble baths, Marvel comic books, your own Angry Birds plush pillow, and most importantly, hamburgers. This is because the point of these prisons is to change the person. To prepare them to be released into society once more.

Some interesting fact here: In the US, many released criminals end up going back. There was a word for that. I believe it was 'recidivist'. While jail is supposedly supposed to make criminals 'better' in the sense that they actually learn from their mistakes and don't do such a thing again, it just seems to happen again and again. What might be wrong?

In Norway, however, things are quite the opposite. Enough said.

Unfortunately, this story takes place in America. However, this story was different. These prisoners were given a chance, although it might not have been intended, to change their lives and walk forward. Hamlet actually seemed to be a step forward for everyone. The prisoners themselves admitted to how important it was for them to have an opportunity to act Hamlet out, and how without it, their life would have had a bit less of a spark.

Hamlet had changed these people.

Now the real question is whether Hamlet (the character) can change himself.
I'll figure it out soon enough.

Anyways, if in the near future, you happen to meet an ex-criminal that continually quotes Hamlet...

...you'll know.