Monologue

Lear Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · melancholic · 1:29 min

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No, no, no, no. Come, let’s away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i’ the cage: When thou dost ask me blessing I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness. So we’ll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we’ll talk with them too, Who loses and who wins; who’s in, who’s out; And take upon’s the mystery of things, As if we were God’s spies. And we’ll wear out, In a wall’d prison, packs and sects of great ones That ebb and flow by the moon. (EDMUND: Take them away.) Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep! We’ll see ’em starve first: come. (Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.)

About this piece

Lear expresses a desire for companionship and solace in the face of his impending imprisonment, reflecting on the simplicity of life and the complexities of human existence.

60 and up · longing · freedom · isolation · redemption · madness

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