The central ideas of the interview with Laura Bates revolve around her unique approach to teaching Shakespeare in a maximum security prison and the transformative impact it had on the inmates, especially those considered the most dangerous. Bates' decision to teach Shakespeare to these inmates was driven by her discovery of a highly restricted unit within the Indiana prison system where no educational programs were available. She felt these prisoners, often seen as "the worst of the worst," were the ones most in need of intellectual and educational engagement. This sentiment is captured when she explains, "they had the greatest need for education and for really any kind of programming and, ironically, they had the least available to them" .

Question

The impact of reading Shakespeare on the prisoners is another central theme. The inmates found deep connections with the characters and themes of the plays, which led to significant self-reflection and personal growth. Bates notes, "the more insight you get into Shakespeare’s characters, the more insight you get into your own character" . This idea is further exemplified by the story of Larry Newton, an inmate who felt that Shakespeare literally and figuratively saved his life by providing a new positive direction and a means to understand and change his own behavior . Bates highlights the profound understanding of human behavior in Shakespeare's works, which helped prisoners relate their own experiences to the struggles and motives of the characters. This connection not only engaged the prisoners but also fostered a sense of introspection and transformation. rephrase like a 8th grader (but keep quotes in same area)

Answer 1

The interview with Laura Bates is all about how she taught Shakespeare to inmates in a really tough prison and how it changed their lives. She found a unit in the prison where there were no classes and decided to teach Shakespeare there because she thought the inmates who had the least opportunities needed it the most. The inmates connected with the plays and characters in a really deep way, which made them think about their own lives and make positive changes. Larry Newton, one of the inmates, said that Shakespeare literally saved his life by giving him a new perspective. Bates says that understanding Shakespeare's characters can help us understand ourselves better. The inmates were able to see themselves in the struggles of the characters, which made them think about their own actions and behavior.