Monologue

Lear Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · anguished · 1:36 min

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Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together. Degenerate bastard! I’ll not trouble thee: Yet have I left a daughter. (GONERIL: You strike my people; and your disorder’d rabble Make servants of their betters. Enter Albany.) Woe that too late repents!— (To Albany.) O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses. Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child Than the sea-monster! (ALBANY: Pray, sir, be patient.) (to Goneril.) Detested kite, thou liest. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know; And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! Which, like an engine, wrench’d my frame of nature From the fix’d place; drew from my heart all love, And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! (Striking his head.) Beat at this gate that let thy folly in And thy dear judgement out! Go, go, my people.

About this piece

King Lear confronts his own folly and the betrayal of his daughter Cordelia, expressing deep anger and regret over his decisions and the loss of love.

60 and up · anger · betrayal · family · madness · power

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