Monologue

Edgar Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · dark · 1:05 min

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Poor Tom; that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the todpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets; swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to tithing, and stocked, punished, and imprisoned; who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, Horse to ride, and weapon to wear. But mice and rats and such small deer, Have been Tom’s food for seven long year. Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin; peace, thou fiend! (GLOUCESTER: What, hath your grace no better company?) The prince of darkness is a gentleman: Modo he’s call’d, and Mahu.

About this piece

Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, reflects on his degradation and the harsh realities of his existence while warning a follower, revealing themes of madness and survival in a brutal world.

20s · disgust · madness · identity · isolation · survival

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