Hamlet, B2v

We decided to do a modern interpretation to make it easier for younger generations to understand the text. We decided to use modern slang terminology because Shakespeare also used his version of contemporary slang words that were common or made popular by his plays. For this reason, some of our words are made by the new generation of students and teenagers, who will be learning and reading Shakespeare either now or in the years to come. Our goals for this were to keep the same meaning but to use our current language, to make it fun, and to show another way for Shakespeare to be read and to make the language specific to the current time period. Our intended audience is the younger generation, ages 10 to 18, which is the current age of many students who are currently getting introduced to Shakespeare. This allows it to entice a different demographic of people to read the text and makes it more interpretable and complex for older generations, which can parallel the way younger generations read Shakespeare. While children may have a hard time grappling with the words and phrases in most Shakespeare plays, older generations would feel the same about the way that we interpreted and rewrote the text.

Hamlet: Yo, up in the outskirts¹ of Norway, things are kinda sus². These wild, lawless dudes keep pulling up, ready to throw hands, just for the sake of it. And honestly? That’s the main reason we’re all on guard duty right now³.

👻 Enter Ghost 👻

Hamlet: Oh snap, look!⁴ It’s back again. Bro, I swear this Ghost is straight-up delulu⁵. Like, stay put, spooky dude! If you have something important tea to spill, just say it. Spit it out, my guy!⁶ If you know some dark secret about the kingdom’s future, and telling us could stop something bad from happening, then spill! Or if someone scammed you in life and you’re big mad about it⁷, let us know! Or, plot twist, you stashed a treasure somewhere before you died, and now you’re haunting us over it?⁸ Just say so, bro. Either way, if you’re vibing here in the afterlife with some unfinished business, don’t just dip; tell us⁹.

👻 Ghost peaces out 👻

Horatio: Bruh, did it just dip?¹⁰

Marcellus: Oof. Maybe we came on too strong? It was giving big main character energy, and we just kinda disrespected it. ¹¹Womp womp.

Horatio: I was literally about to get it to talk, but then I was getting a bad vibe.

Marcellus: Yeah, and it totally fell off right then. Big scaredy-cat energy¹².

Horatio: Makes sense. That early-morning rise and shine basically tells all the chaotic spirits, “Party’s over; go home.” And so, they just Irish goodbyed back to wherever they came from¹³. No after-hours for ghosts, I guess.

Marcellus: Yeah, some people say that whenever that rooster is vibing¹⁴ with its morning anthems, all the supernatural stuff just stops. Like, full reset. Some even say it’s because it’s the same season when Santa pops by¹⁵

☜

☞