You told me you brought all the world and laid it at my feet. Is this part of the process? (HAGEN: Yes, this is part.) (Stares at him intently; whispers.) How do you do it? (HAGEN: What?) What is the secret of your power? They are millions, and you are only one... yet you have them bound! Is it some spell that you have woven? (A pause; HAGEN stares at her. She goes on, with growing intensity and excitement.) They are afraid of your gold! Afraid of your gold! All the world is afraid of it! It is nothing--it is a dream... it is a nightmare! If they would defy you... if they would open their eyes... it would go as all nightmares go! But you have made them believe in it! They cower and cringe before it! They toil and slave for it! They take up arms and murder their brothers for it! They sell their minds and their souls for it! And all because no one dares to defy you! No one! No one! (In a sudden transport of passion.) I defy you! (PRINCE HAGEN starts; she gazes at him wildly.) I will not marry you! I will not sell myself to you! Not for any price that you can offer... not for any threat that you can make! Not in order that my mother may plan wedding breakfasts and triumph over Mrs. Bagley-Willis! Not in order that my father may rule in Wall Street and command the slaughter of women and children! Nor yet for the fear of anything that you can do!

Est Monologue from Prince Hagen

About this piece

Rehearse Est's monologue

More from Prince Hagen

Browse