Monologue

Svietlovidoff Monologue from Swan Song

From Swan Song by Anton Chekhov

male · melancholic · 1:16 min

Rehearse this freeFind more monologues
I saw through it all that day, and the knowledge was dearly bought. Nikitushka! After that... when that girl... well, I began to wander aimlessly about, living from day to day without looking ahead. I took the parts of buffoons and low comedians, letting my mind go to wreck. Ah! but I was a great artist once, till little by little I threw away my talents, played the motley fool, lost my looks, lost the power of expressing myself, and became in the end a Merry Andrew instead of a man. I have been swallowed up in that great black pit. I never felt it before, but to-night, when I woke up, I looked back, and there behind me lay sixty-eight years. I have just found out what it is to be old! It is all over... (sobs)... all over.

About this piece

Svietlovidoff reflects on his life and the loss of his artistic talents, grappling with the realization of aging and the emptiness it brings.

60 and up · sadness · identity · aging · loss · isolation

Rehearse Svietlovidoff'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 Swan Song

Browse