Monologue

Bushy Monologue from Richard II

From Richard II by William Shakespeare

male · philosophical · 56 sec

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Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows, Which shows like grief itself, but is not so; For sorrow’s eye, glazed with blinding tears, Divides one thing entire to many objects, Like perspectives which, rightly gazed upon, Show nothing but confusion; eyed awry, Distinguish form. So your sweet Majesty, Looking awry upon your lord’s departure, Find shapes of grief more than himself to wail, Which, looked on as it is, is naught but shadows Of what it is not. Then, thrice-gracious Queen, More than your lord’s departure weep not. More is not seen, Or if it be, ’tis with false sorrow’s eye, Which for things true weeps things imaginary.

About this piece

Bushy attempts to console the Queen by reflecting on the nature of grief and perception, suggesting that her sorrow may be more about illusion than reality.

30s · sadness · grief · loss · perception · illusion

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