Monologue

Mask Monologue from The Double Dealer

From The Double Dealer by William Congreve

male · anguished · 1:05 min

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Why do I love! Yet heaven and my waking conscience are my witnesses, I never gave one working thought a vent, which might discover that I loved, nor ever must. No, let it prey upon my heart; for I would rather die, than seem once, barely seem, dishonest. Oh, should it once be known I love fair Cynthia, all this that I have done would look like rival's malice, false friendship to my lord, and base self-interest. Let me perish first, and from this hour avoid all sight and speech, and, if I can, all thought of that pernicious beauty. Ha! But what is my distraction doing? I am wildly talking to myself, and some ill chance might have directed malicious ears this way.

About this piece

The character, Mask, grapples with his unconfessed love for Cynthia, fearing that revealing his feelings would lead to misunderstandings and damage his honor.

20s · longing · love · identity · betrayal · isolation

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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.

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