If Hamlet Was in 'Goodfellas'

Adapting Hamlet - If Hamlet was in Goodfellas

The restaurant was crowded for the night. The whole family was there. We were to stick together to make sure there wasn’t nobody around that could start creating issues at the Bamboo Lounge. You know, strength in numbers. Polone was a bit worried for his place after a run in with some troublemakers last week.

You see, being in the mob is like being in a family: they cover your back if you cover theirs. If you’re a Made guy and you get pushed, then you have a whole lotta people that can push back for you; nobody can’t do nothin to you.

There’s a long table covered in a smooth, clean cloth. The boss sits at the head, and the closer you are to the boss the higher rank you are. Consigliere, Caporegime, Soldier…it’s just a big pyramid of a big family.

There was Horacio, and Marcello, and me. Ophelia, who is Polone’s daughter.

“Good evening Hamletto, it’s quite excellent food tonight.” Ophelia always talks like she has a gun to her head, her father and her brother always had made sure she behaved like a lady. Her eyes were like diamonds tonight.

Over at the bar there was Anthony Stabile and Bernardo Carbone. Over towards the end of the table you have Freddie No-Nose. And then further towards the head there was Laertes the Killer, who was Ophelia's brother, and Mikey Francisco.

“Ciao Hamletto, how’s it going, you enjoying the food, enjoying the food?” That’s Polone Two-Times, the guy who owns the restaurant, and Ophelia’s father. He got that name because he said everything two times. He's a Consigliere in the family. That means he’s really close to the boss, even if he’s as dumb as a box of rocks that went diving at the bottom of the Hudson.

Across the city you have the Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, and Colombo clans. Me, I’m Hamletto Lucchese, and my father runs the family…well he did run the family until he was murdered. No one knew how my father was murdered, all but he was found dead laying in the backyard.

Now my uncle, Claudio Lucchese is in charge, he was sworn in as the boss last week. Nasty guy. He’s taken interest in my mother lately, Getruzzia Lucchese and I don’t like it.

“Ah, cousin Hamletto…and my son. I thought it would be best to tell you now while we’re all enjoying ourselves that me and your mother got married while you were away last week. Anyway, how’s it going?”

“Not so good anymore, too many family ties right there.” I mentioned.

“Oh are you still all gloomy and sad about your father? Relax, enjoy yourself, bite the bullet wiseass.”

I’m really not liking this new family arrangement. How stale life can be.

Reflection

Both Hamlet and Goodfellas expose the audience to a main character dealing with themes of sanity, love, death, and betrayal. With this concept in mind, I decided to utilize Scene 2 of the first act for my adaptation as I believe that it shared similarities with the iconic scene of meeting the crew in Goodfellas. As I was choosing to adapt Hamlet to a much more modern setting, I had to adapt characters' names to fit the setting. Examples are those such as: Hamletto, Claudio, Polone, Marcello, Horacio, Gertruzzia, and more. Additionally I intended to have a minor portrayal of major character’s personalities within as well during the intro, such as seen in Hamlet’s statement about Polonius saying “...even if he’s as dumb as a box of rocks that went diving at the bottom of the Hudson.” A major part of my adaptation that I intended to keep intact was the showcase of Hamlet’s sanity and wit. I displayed this by means of statements such as “...I’m really not liking this new family arrangement. How stale life can be.” along with simile and personification in “...even if he’s as dumb as a box of rocks that went diving at the bottom of the Hudson.” One thing that was changed from Hamlet is the narration style. I decided to utilize the first person narration style that was used in Goodfellas as it can provide the feeling of the unknown, which supports Hamlet’s indecisiveness with his actions in the play, and it contributes to the reader experiencing the themes of the play.