Monologue

Gloucester Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · dark · 1:08 min

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These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us: though the wisdom of Nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked ’twixt son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction; there’s son against father: the King falls from bias of nature; there’s father against child. We have seen the best of our time. Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves. Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully.—And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished! his offence, honesty! ’Tis strange. (Exit.)

About this piece

Gloucester expresses his deep concern about the chaotic state of the world and the betrayal within his own family, particularly highlighting the conflict between fathers and sons.

50s · fear · betrayal · family · power · madness

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