Modern Day Hamlet

    I am a TV junkie. One of my favorite shows, is the most violent and dramatic show on television Sons of Anarchy. It is also loosely modeled after Hamlet. The connections between the show and play are really amazing, and Sons of Anarchy is the modern take, on this revenge tragedy. Jax Teller is the Vice President of the SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original), and he is our Hamlet. His step-father Clay is the President, who took over after Jax's father died. Sound familiar? Clay is Claudius, and his wife and Jax's mom, Gemma is Gertrude. We even have our ghost, except its in the form of letters and manuscripts left by Jax's father about what he wants for the motorcycle club. Tara is Jax's high school sweetheart, or Ophelia and Opie is Jax's childhood friend modeled after Horatio. Jax does not know how his father died, but he does know that the motorcycle club is not going where his father would have liked. The club is involved in drugs, weapons trafficking, and prostitution. It's basically like the rotten corrupt activities going on in Denmark. Throughout the show, Jax struggles with fulfilling his father's dream of a motorcycle club that defends the people of their town, Charming. He has to deal with his overbearing step father Clay, (who killed his father) and his mother Gemma, who has a drinking problem. Jax also has to face is own demons, an ex wife and mother to his child who is a heroin addict, and the love of his life Tara who wants nothing to do with the motorcycle club. Sons of Anarchy has many of the qualities that Hamlet has - treachery, moral corruption, and revenge. The thing that I love about it, is that it is an extension for me of the characters in Hamlet. I picture Gertrude as being spiteful, strong, and relentless, and Gemma plays that out for me on screen. I want to believe that Ophelia is smart, brave, and cunning and Tara embodies that. I wish I could see deeper into Hamlet's mind, his interactions with other characters, and what kind of leader he would be, Jax is just as complex. One of the characters I feel we do not see deeply enough into is Claudius. Believe me, you will hate Clay because you see the twisted lengths he will go to for power. SOA is VERY VIOLENT but the character development is amazing, and if you want to see more of the dysfunctional characters in Hamlet SOA is the way. Also Charlie Hunnam (Hamlet) is beautiful, you're welcome. 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/12224059235_5bbc3dcda0_o.jpg