July 5th, 2011 → 7:57 am @ // No Comments

“My fault is past.  But, O, what form of prayer
Can serve my turn? ‘Forgive me my foul murder’?
That cannot be; since I am still possess’d
Of those effects for which I did the murder,
My crown, mine own ambition and my queen.  
May one be pardon’d and retain the offence?” 
– Hamlet

I’ve been listening to the radio show This American Life since it began in 1995.  With the podcast now, I believe I have never missed an episode.  Before the podcast I used to schedule my weekly house cleaning around the time the show aired so I could listen to it while I dusted and swept.  Anyhow, this week they are re-playing my favorite episode of all time, Act V, about a production of Hamlet put on in a high-security prison.  A show that contemplates murder, acted out by murderers.  It makes me well up in tears every time.


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