Hamlet and the Booby Prize: Unraveling the Mystery behind the Curtain
The famous TV game show Let's Make a Deal was a staple of evening entertainment, with its three curtains concealing either booby prizes or luxurious rewards. One of the more intriguing participants in the show's history was a character named Polonius, who was famously behind Curtain Number One. Other contestants such as Laertes were positioned behind Curtain Number Three, while the grand prize—a new kitchen—waited behind Curtain Number Two. However, the curtain reveal for Polonius took an unforeseen turn, leading to an unfortunate end for the contestant.
A Twist of Fate: The Curtain Reveal
The curtain reveal for Polonius on Let's Make a Deal was a moment of dramatic irony that caught many off guard. Monty Hall, the host of the show, was known for revealing the prizes with a flamboyant sword sweeping motion. However, this particular reveal led to a tragic outcome. As Monty stabbed the curtain with his sword in the traditional manner, it sliced through to Polonius, who was standing too close. This incident was later rectified with a more subtle and safe revealing method.
Trivia from the Screen: 'Forged in Fire'
An interesting tidbit comes from the TV show 'Forged in Fire,' wherein a recreation of the original sword used for the curtain reveal was featured. This serves as a reminder of the precision and care required for such iconic scenes in television history.
Hamlet and the Shifting Scenes
The mystery in question revolves around a known scene in Hamlet where the character Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius. The line 'I took thee for thy better' suggests that Hamlet believed he was striking the King when, in fact, he was only aiming for his servant Polonius. This raises several questions about the original script and Shakespeare's intentions.
The King's Unfortunate Location
It is intriguing that Hamlet encountered Polonius behind the curtain, as this happens just after the King, who was intellectually challenging Hamlet, had left his place of prayer. It is mere coincidence that Hamlet's action led to the death of Polonius, leading to the King's suspicion about Hamlet's intentions. The question arises whether Shakespeare's original script had these scenes in a different order or if they were ever meant to be chronological. This would explain the odd line 'I took thee for thy better,' as it could be a mistake in the script that was never corrected in subsequent performances.
Scene Rearrangement: A Theoretical Explanation
One plausible scenario is that Shakespeare initially positioned the scene after Hamlet's confrontation with the King on his knees. However, during the editing process, he may have shifted the scenes to fit the chronological order. In this case, the line 'I took thee for thy better' might have been left in as a remnant of the original script, leading to confusion for modern readers and viewers.
Conclusion
The mystery of Hamlet's accidental murder of Polonius, as depicted in 'Let's Make a Deal,' mirrors the puzzling lines in Shakespeare's play. Whether it was a misplacement in the script or a deliberate choice by Shakespeare, the line 'I took thee for thy better' remains a key part of the story's enigma. The narrative structure and scene placement in both the TV show and the play suggest a deeper layer of meaning, challenging us to re-evaluate the choices made by both television producers and playwrights.