Monologue

Stranger Monologue from To Damascus

From To Damascus by August Strindberg

male · anguished · 3:02 min

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I don't believe it. But I do believe that evil emanates from this house. May it recoil upon it! That is my prayer! Now, according to custom, it would be my duty to shoot myself; but I can't, so long as I have other duties. You see, I can't even die, and so I've lost my last treasure--what, with reason, I call my religion. I've heard that man can wrestle with God, and with success; but not even Job could fight against Satan. Let's speak of you. You are a man of the world, a man of the present, a man of the future. You are a man who has made a name for himself, who has achieved success, who has gained the respect of others. But what is that worth? What is the value of your success when you are surrounded by evil? When you are haunted by the specter of your own conscience? You may have everything, but you have nothing if you do not have peace within yourself. You may have power, but it is a hollow power if it is not accompanied by love and compassion. You may have wealth, but it is a fleeting wealth if it is not shared with others. You may have fame, but it is a meaningless fame if it is not grounded in truth. So I ask you, what is the purpose of your life? What is the meaning of your existence? Are you truly happy, or are you merely existing in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction? I have seen many men like you, and I have seen them fall. I have seen them crumble under the weight of their own ambitions, their own desires. I have seen them lose everything they hold dear, and in the end, they are left with nothing but regret. So I urge you, take a moment to reflect on your life. Take a moment to consider what truly matters. For in the end, it is not the accolades or the achievements that will define you, but the love you give and the kindness you show to others.

About this piece

The Stranger grapples with feelings of despair and the burden of existence within a house that he believes harbors evil, reflecting on his inability to escape his duties and the loss of his faith.

30s · despair · death · isolation · faith · evil

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