Shakespearean monologues are soliloquies delivered by a character in a play, usually expressing their inner thoughts and feelings. These monologues have become a staple of theater and literature, and are known for their beauty, depth, and complexity.
One of the most famous Shakespearean monologues is Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy, in which the character muses on the nature of existence and whether it is better to live or to die. This monologue is notable for its philosophical depth and for its exploration of the human condition.
Another famous Shakespearean monologue is Juliet's "Romeo, Romeo" soliloquy from Romeo and Juliet, in which she laments the fact that her family is feuding with Romeo's and that they are forbidden from being together. This monologue is notable for its emotional intensity and for its expression of love and longing.
Shakespeare's monologues are also known for their use of figurative language and poetic devices, such as metaphor and imagery. In Macbeth's "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" monologue, he reflects on the meaningless and fleeting nature of life, using imagery and metaphor to convey his despair.
In addition to their literary and artistic value, Shakespearean monologues are also commonly used in acting and theater training, as they provide actors with an opportunity to explore a character's inner thoughts and emotions and to develop their skills in language, vocal delivery, and physical expression.
Overall, Shakespearean monologues are a testament to the enduring power of language and the human experience, and their enduring popularity is a testament to their timeless appeal.
Male Shakespeare Monologues
Her dotage now I do begin to pity. Knocking within Anon, anon! My fault is past. Wherefore was I born? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Just prior to this monologue, Hal has been berated by his father for being a stain on the family honor. Edmund: Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Despite this, it still has much to be respected, from its ability to defend itself and the moat of water surrounding it. Duke: Be absolute for death: either death or life Shall thereby be the sweeter.
O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! If you want to get more help with a specific monologue check out the link below… Learn more: How to Select the Perfect Shakespeare Monologue Remember to always pick a monologue that you have a natural connection with. Macbeth painted by the Sir Joshua Reynolds ; engraved by Robert Thew, CC BY-SA 4. Heaven and earth, Must I remember? See more Hamlet: Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as live the town crier spoke my lines. It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. His horses are bred better, for besides150 that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage and to that end riders dearly hired; but I, his brother, gain nothing under him but growth, for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as I. For a full breakdown check out Leontes: Gone already! As You Like It Act 1 Scene 1 Orlando As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou sayest, charged my brother on his blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my sadness.
I would to God some scholar would conjure her, for certainly, while she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell as in a sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose, because they would go thither; so indeed all disquiet, horror, and perturbation follows her. Learn more about In the prison. While there is no sexual assault in the scene, she is left feeling powerless to make the right choice. I would not lose so great an honour As one man more, methinks, would share from me For the best hope I have. We have compiled two comprehensive lists of what we consider to be the best male and female Shakespeare monologues. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night.
Claudio is arrested and taken to jail to be executed. However, if you are looking for some extra help I have made a video with some of my favourites. When this advice is free I give and honest, Probal to thinking and indeed the course To win the Moor again? Friend hast thou none; For thine own bowels which do call thee sire, The mere effusion of thy proper loins, Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum For ending thee no sooner. Knocking within Knock, knock; never at quiet! The monologues are organized by play, then categorized by comedy, history and tragedy. No port is free, no place That guard and most unusual vigilance Does not attend my taking. For more on This is the only monologue that has been constructed from two seperate speeches to make one unified monologue.
Related 29 Shakespeare Monologues for Actors 5. Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Out, out, brief candle! O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint, With saints dost bait thy hook! In this monologue she is confessing her love maybe slightly naively to Ferdinand, who has just been shipwrecked on her island. O, may such purple tears be always shed From those that wish the downfall of our house! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? For more detailed information on Brutus: It must be by his death: and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him But for the general. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man. I did never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending.
I have known when he would have walked ten mile afoot to see a good armour, and now will he lie ten nights awake, carving the fashion of a new doublet. Redeem thy brother By yielding up thy body to my will; Or else he must not only die the death, But thy unkindness shall his death draw out To lingering sufferance. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. I will hide me in the arbour. To start browsing our massive Shakespeare monologue resources, simply select either the male or female link below.
It seems her affections have their full bent. A Jew would have wept to have seen our parting. Reason thus with life: If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep. All the kind of the Launces have this very fault. He swears on penalty of death that the events occurred the way he describes them. Many of the most famous monologues in Shakespeare monologues.
What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? Henry V: Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, Or close the wall up with our English dead. I am a subject, And I challenge law: attorneys are denied me; And therefore, personally I lay my claim To my inheritance of free descent. While Hamlet was upset, I do not think he was really depressed as much as reflective and upset about life as he reflected upon his disappointment in so much. Knocking Knock, knock, knock! The definition of a monologue in a play is simply a long speech by one character to other characters, or a crowd. Richard III Character: LADY ANNE Location: Act I, sc.
Shakespeare Monologues: Translations & Analysis By Play
Petruchio is a jokester and treats Kate with disrespect. Then, the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. Now, my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen. He is completely without mercy. No, the dog is himself, and I am the dog. Why, my grandam, having no eyes, look you, wept herself blind at my parting.
But if your monologue absolutely MUST be one minute and no longer, you may be able to find a favourite and cut just a few lines and it will be close to one minute. This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy, This signor-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid, Regent of love-rimes, lord of folded arms, The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans, Liege of all loiterers and malcontents, Dread prince of plackets, king of codpieces, Sole imperator and great general Of trotting paritors — O my little heart! Aaron: Ay, that I had not done a thousand more. You shall find her the infernal Ate in good apparel. These monologues below touch on the confusion, elation, and bewilderment that both men and women experience when dealing with love. Below you will find my 2 favorite monologues from the tragedies, comedies, and histories of Shakespeare.
