Monologue

Lear Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · dramatic · 1:26 min

Rehearse this freeFind more monologues
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. (GLOUCESTER: I shall, my lord.) Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and ’tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden’d crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer’d. Tell me, my daughters,— Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state,— Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.—Goneril, Our eldest born, speak first.

About this piece

King Lear announces his decision to divide his kingdom among his daughters, seeking to determine who loves him the most, setting the stage for familial conflict and power struggles.

60 and up · anticipation · power · family · identity · betrayal

Rehearse Lear's monologue

Run it out loud with a spotlight that follows your voice, line by line, until it's off the page. Free to start, no credit card.

Rehearse freeStart rehearsing

More from King Lear

Every speech from King Lear, printed in full

Browse