Act V

The National Public Radio show This American Life has a fascinating episode (#218: "Act V") that follows a group of inmates in a high-security prison as they prepare to perform the last act of Hamlet. It is a wonderful exploration of the potential for fiction to transform an individual, to illuminate one's own personality and experiences and lead to individual growth. One also cannot help but ponder the potential for human transformation in general, and the competing goals of incarceration: to both rehabilitate and to punish. You can listen to the show for free here (a copy can also be downloaded for 95 cents). The organization responsible for this program can be found here. This American Life can be subscribed to as a podcast, through iTunes.