Monologue

Captain Monologue from The Father

From The Father by August Strindberg

male · contemplative · 2:10 min

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It's risky to take anything on good faith where a woman is concerned. (DOCTOR: Oh, there are so many kinds of women.) Modern investigations have pronounced that there is only one kind! Lately I have recalled two instances in my life that make me believe this. When I was young I was strong and, if I may boast, handsome. Once when I was making a trip on a steamer and sitting with a few friends in the saloon, the young stewardess came and flung herself down by me, burst into tears, and told us that her sweetheart was drowned. We sympathized with her, and I ordered some champagne. After the second glass I touched her foot; after the fourth her knee, and before morning I had consoled her. (DOCTOR: That was just a winter fly.) Now comes the second instance--and that was a real summer fly. I was at Lyskil. There was a young married woman stopping there with her children, but her husband was in town. She was religious, had extremely strict principles, preached morals to me, and was, I believe, entirely honorable. I lent her a book, two books, and when she was leaving, she returned them, strange to say! Three months later, in those very books I found her card with a declaration on it. It was innocent, as innocent its it declaration of love can be from a married woman to a strange man who never made any advances. Now comes the moral: Just don't have too much faith.

About this piece

The Captain reflects on a past experience of emotional connection and loss, revealing his complex feelings about relationships and the passage of time.

30s · melancholy · love · loss · identity · isolation

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