Monologue

Goneril Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

female · defiant · 1:03 min

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This admiration, sir, is much o’ the favour Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you To understand my purposes aright: As you are old and reverend, you should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires; Men so disorder’d, so debosh’d and bold That this our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel Than a grac’d palace. The shame itself doth speak For instant remedy. Be, then, desir’d By her that else will take the thing she begs A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder that shall still depend, To be such men as may besort your age, Which know themselves, and you.

About this piece

Goneril confronts her father, King Lear, about the disorderly conduct of his retinue, expressing her disdain for the chaos that disrupts the dignity of the court.

30s · disgust · power · family · betrayal · identity

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