Shakespeare monologues
- Thread starter Semiazas
- Start date
'Now comes the winter of our discontent,
Made glorious summer by this son of York...'
That might not be word for word...
All the best monologues (or at least the ones that I know by heart) come from Hamlet. On top of that all the best monologues are for male characters...
For me there's nothing better than Lear's 'like birds in the cage' speech but I guess it would be weird to have a young actor reading anything from Lear.
Trying to think of a specific Desdemona speech but nothing's springing to mind. Or maybe something from Lady Macbeth. I do not know, I would suggest googling about a bit.
Made glorious summer by this son of York...'
That might not be word for word...
All the best monologues (or at least the ones that I know by heart) come from Hamlet. On top of that all the best monologues are for male characters...
For me there's nothing better than Lear's 'like birds in the cage' speech but I guess it would be weird to have a young actor reading anything from Lear.
Trying to think of a specific Desdemona speech but nothing's springing to mind. Or maybe something from Lady Macbeth. I do not know, I would suggest googling about a bit.
I think that the 'Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt...' speech from Hamlet is better than 'To be or not to be', but that's just personal preference...
I'd go for something from either Othello or Macbeth if you're using Hamlet. Probably Othello if you're going to go with Lady Macbeth. That way you'll have covered the three big tragedies that can be done by young people.
I'd go for something from either Othello or Macbeth if you're using Hamlet. Probably Othello if you're going to go with Lady Macbeth. That way you'll have covered the three big tragedies that can be done by young people.
I'm not sure exactly where it falls, but the moment when Othello laments the death of Desdemona (Oh Desdemona! Desdemona! ...ETC!) is a pretty nice one for your theme, I think.
A speech that many soldiers know; I've bolded the lines that let you know why.
St. Crispen's Day Speech
Shakespeare's HENRY V
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
St. Crispen's Day Speech
Shakespeare's HENRY V
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
I'm looking for some particular monologues from Shakespeare to use in a short film idea.
I need one male and one female monologue, from different plays (neither from Hamlet) that take place before a suicide or tragic event that befalls the character.
Cheers
I recommend reading the whole play once you find a monologue you like. It needs to be grasped and understood, not just recited.
Here is a great Shakespearean monologue one for a woman. I used to use this at auditions when I was acting. It is Hermione from A Winter's Tale, a tragedy, and she is speaking to her husband the King Leontes who is jealous and suspects her of infidelity. This is from Act III, Scene II, and starts at Line 96, and is very moving:
HERMIONE
Sir, spare your threats:
The bug which you would fright me with I seek.
To me can life be no commodity:
The crown and comfort of my life, your favour,
I do give lost; for I do feel it gone,
But know not how it went. My second joy
And first-fruits of my body, from his presence
I am barr'd, like one infectious. My third comfort
Starr'd most unluckily, is from my breast,
The innocent milk in its most innocent mouth,
Haled out to murder: myself on every post
Proclaimed a strumpet: with immodest hatred
The child-bed privilege denied, which 'longs
To women of all fashion; lastly, hurried
Here to this place, i' the open air, before
I have got strength of limit. Now, my liege,
Tell me what blessings I have here alive,
That I should fear to die? Therefore proceed.
But yet hear this: mistake me not; no life,
I prize it not a straw, but for mine honour,
Which I would free, if I shall be condemn'd
Upon surmises, all proofs sleeping else
But what your jealousies awake, I tell you
'Tis rigor and not law. Your honours all,
I do refer me to the oracle:
Apollo be my judge!
- - - -
Hermione does fall dead soon afterward. Actually, lots of people die in this one. It's very sad.
Ummm... I would note that The Winter's Tale is not actually a tragedy, but one of Shakespeare's romances (usually associated with the later plays).
As such the play, in which Leontes accuses his wife of infidelity (wrongly) and she 'disappears' for many years, is not really very good and the characters are quite two-dimensional.
Personally, I would steer clear of The Winter's Tale.
As such the play, in which Leontes accuses his wife of infidelity (wrongly) and she 'disappears' for many years, is not really very good and the characters are quite two-dimensional.
Personally, I would steer clear of The Winter's Tale.
For the first time, I'm going to have to disagree with you
I think as one of his later plays its interesting to see how deftly he transitions from a tragedy at the beginning to more of a pastoral comedy in the middle (the OP didn't say it had to be a tragedy, just from a moment before a tragic event befalls a character - the monologues of Leontes and Hermione certainly fulfil that brief). While the characters may be placed in unrealistic/fairy-tale type situations, I think their responses are extremely human and psychologically well-observed.Right back at me... 
The Winter's Tale is a dull genre mish mash indicative of the fact that Shakespeare had pretty much given up his interest in plot and characters by that point (I will accept the exception of The Tempest) and instead has this ludicrous Othello lite opening, bizarre pastoral scenes and then, finally, an extraordinarily route one comedy ending.
All I'll say is that if all Shakespeare's plays were at TWT's standard then his reputation would be help in considerably lesser esteem...
The Winter's Tale is a dull genre mish mash indicative of the fact that Shakespeare had pretty much given up his interest in plot and characters by that point (I will accept the exception of The Tempest) and instead has this ludicrous Othello lite opening, bizarre pastoral scenes and then, finally, an extraordinarily route one comedy ending.
All I'll say is that if all Shakespeare's plays were at TWT's standard then his reputation would be help in considerably lesser esteem...
Regardless of some opinions on the play, Hermione's monologue is really great. She is saying so much about how Leontes's suspicions and treatment of her have hurt her, but she stands strong in her defiance to him, saying "why would I want to continue living like this?" and that she's not afraid of death after the way he treated her. And then the challenge - to a king - that only Apollo will judge her and not him. It sends chills!
Side note: ever notice how many movies and TV shows got their titles from Hamlet's most famous soliloquy? I've bolded the ones I know, but I probably missed some.
Oh for the love of God!!!!!!! You stole my monologue!!!!!!! LOL. Just kidding, but that is the one I use. There is so much emotion available in it. Fire, pride, disgust, resolve. Hey Hamlet's speech is good, but everyone knows that one.
My second choice is from Merchant of Venice, but I never needed to memorize it. Henry V always did it. As former military, I was able to relate to it in a way..........
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