Monologue

Thorfinn Monologue from The Outlaw

From The Outlaw by August Strindberg

male · anguished · 2:30 min

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I fear so. ORM . Come, Gunlöd, and empty this sacred horn to Odin who saved your father from shipwreck. THORFINN . Drink, Gunlöd. GUNLÖD. Hear me, father. I am a Christian. Do with me what you will--my soul you cannot destroy. God and the Saints will protect it. GUNLÖD. No! I won't go. I must speak that you, my father, may not go to the grave with a lie--for your whole life has been a lie! I shall sacrifice the child's respect--love I have never felt--and prove to you what terrible guilt you have gathered on your head. Know then, you have taught me to hate--for when did you ever give me love--you taught me to fear the great Erl Thorfinn and you have succeeded, because I tremble before your harshness. I respect your many scars and great deeds, but you never taught me to love my father. You always thrust me away when I wanted to come to you--you poisoned my soul and now you see God's punishment. You have made me a criminal--for such I am at this moment, but it cannot be otherwise. Why do you hate my belief? Because it is love and yours is hate! Oh, father, father, I want to kiss the clouds from your brow. I wanted to caress your white locks and make you forget the sorrows that whitened them. I wanted to support you when your steps began to falter--Oh! forget what I have said--open your arms and take me to your heart. Look at me tenderly--just once before it is too late. Speak one word-- Oh, your glance freezes me! You will not! I shall pray for power to love you.

About this piece

Gunlöd confronts his father, Thorfinn, expressing deep emotional turmoil over their strained relationship and the lack of love in his upbringing, while grappling with his own beliefs and identity.

20s · longing · family · love · betrayal · identity

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