Monologue

King Richard Monologue from Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Oxford 1911)/Volume 4/The Tragedy of King Richard the Second

From Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Oxford 1911)/Volume 4/The Tragedy of King Richard the Second by Oxford 1911

male · anguished · 1:03 min

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:Must I do so? And must I ravel out :My weav'd-up follies? Gentle Northumberland, :If thy offences were upon record, :Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop :To read a lecture of them? If thou wouldst, :There shouldst thou find one heinous article, :Containing the deposing of a king :And cracking the strong warrant of an oath, :Mark'd with a blot, damn'd in the book of heaven. :Nay, all of you that stand and look upon me :Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself, :Though some of you, with Pilate, wash your hands, :Showing an outward pity; yet you Pilates :Have here deliver'd me to my sour cross, :And water cannot wash away your sin.

About this piece

King Richard grapples with his downfall and the betrayal of those around him, expressing his anguish and the weight of his lost kingship.

30s · despair · power · betrayal · identity · redemption

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