Hamlet lacks the 'agent' factor

A concept that stood out as I read Johnson's essay about Hamlet was his idea that " Hamlet is, through the whole play, rather an instrument than an agent." Hamlet's lengthy recurring debate on being the avenger or not being the avenger of his father's murder practically takes up his whole time, leaving little or nothing left for his scheming of the actual revenge. I laugh when I think about Hamlet like this, it's quite absurd yet not far form reality. How many college graduates now wander through the streets of big cities in search of jobs? How many of them are actually capable of using what they learned and actually apply them? Studying philosophy for example, is one that will obviously drive your mind to the infinite and beyond, but how much of it is applicable on a daily basis? Ok. I'm sorry philosophy wasn't the best example, actually its a little bit of a terrible example, but it made the point. Anyway, what I mean is  Hamlet's university education and fanfare in a way, cursed him. Because Hamlet's intellect takes over his instinct preventing him from taking action, his now obsolete physical contributions to the act of revenge leave him with nothing more than doubt.

Now. Why does Johnson claim Hamlet's an instrument? If it's not clear by now here it goes.
Hamlet's intellect is intact, thus, he can still use it as an advisor of some sort. However, because he doesn't have the 'agent' factor in him, he needs someone to avenge the death for him. In the end, he does, get his 'agent' or 'agents' since he doesn't kill Claudius by himself but with a series of events that serve as 'agents' like Gertrude's accidental poisoning and the death of Laertes.

The Radio Show's the What, the Radio is the How

      Not knowing what I was about to listen to, I pressed play on the radio show recorded almost 10 years ago. As I sat on my couch, my laptop sitting on my lap, I heard the baffling voices reciting Hamlet. Thankfully, it wasn't long until I realized the text below the loading bar was actually explaining what the narrator was talking about. Forehead slapping moment. Duh! 

      Anyway, three minutes into the show, the Jack Hitt, the narrator, shifts the attention towards the voices of inmates at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center who are putting up their own adaptation of the play.  Wait a minute! Wasn't CNG's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet back in 2010 also set in a jail?  What's up with Shakespeare and his adaptations alluding to jail? Well, come to think of it, many of his characters are prisoners of their own situations. Hamlet, is stuck trying to make up his mind about avenging his father's murder. In Romeo and Juliet's case, their literal inability to live without each other is what's obstructing their so-called freedom.  The featured prisoners, on the other hand manage to juxtapose Hamlet's inaction to their extreme action taking decisions that led them to prison. 

    Another aspect that stood out was the audio format in which this show was delivered. Hamlet is all about the ears, and oddly enough, everything that anyone can get out of this show will come to them through their ears. In the end, all that matters in Shakespeare's work are the words and the use of them. Therefore, the lack of images or video in the show becomes insignificant because the message does get across. At least I think I got the message. Either way, I found that connection between the how and the what of the show being related to Hamlet's 'ears'  very interesting.