Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo regarding their wedding arrangements. She reflects on the agonizing slowness of time and the contrast between the swiftness of youthful passion and the perceived lethargy of the elderly.

The Winter's Tale

by William Shakespeare

A comedic monologue where the Clown attempts to calculate the shopping list for a sheep-shearing feast, distracted by the various ingredients and the musical talents of the shearers.

Henry IV, Part 1

by William Shakespeare

On the eve of battle, Falstaff interrogates the concept of military honor, weighing its abstract glory against the physical reality of death and injury. He ultimately rejects the pursuit of honor as a useless 'scutcheon' that offers nothing to the living and cannot be felt by the dead.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by William Shakespeare

Bottom awakens alone in the woods after his magical transformation and encounter with the Fairy Queen, Titania. He struggles to articulate the profound and surreal nature of his 'vision,' ultimately deciding to have a ballad written about the experience to perform for the Duke.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Caliban confronts Prospero, asserting his rightful ownership of the island and recounting how he was initially deceived by kindness. He expresses deep resentment for being enslaved and stripped of his sovereignty, using the very language he was taught to curse his captor.

Antony and Cleopatra

by William Shakespeare

Cleopatra prepares for her ritualistic suicide to avoid being paraded through Rome as Caesar's captive. She dons her royal robes and crown, envisioning a reunion with Antony in the afterlife while applying a venomous asp to her breast. The scene captures her final transition from a defeated queen to a figure of 'fire and air.'

King Lear

by William Shakespeare

Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, rejects the societal laws that brand him as inferior due to his birth. He vows to overthrow his legitimate brother Edgar and seize his inheritance through a cunning deception, appealing to nature to favor his ambition.

Antony and Cleopatra

by William Shakespeare

Enobarbus describes the breathtaking first meeting between Mark Antony and Cleopatra, painting a vivid picture of her arrival on a golden barge. He illustrates how her overwhelming beauty and presence captivated not only Antony but the very elements of nature themselves.

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Hamlet reflects on his own inaction after witnessing Fortinbras's army marching to risk their lives for a small, insignificant piece of land. He compares his own hesitation to avenge his father's murder with the soldiers' willingness to die for honor, ultimately resolving to commit himself fully to his violent revenge.

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Hamlet expresses his profound grief and suicidal ideation following the death of his father and the hasty remarriage of his mother to his uncle. He struggles with feelings of betrayal and disgust at the corruption he perceives in the world and his own family.

The Winter's Tale

by William Shakespeare

Queen Hermione stands trial for adultery and treason, delivering a powerful defense of her integrity and royal honor. She appeals to King Leontes' own conscience and the divine truth of her innocence while acknowledging the tragic loss of her status and family.

Measure for Measure

by William Shakespeare

Isabella pleads with the cold-hearted judge Angelo to spare her brother's life, arguing against the hypocrisy of men in power. She contrasts the divine mercy of Heaven with the petty, destructive authority exercised by mortal men who forget their own fragile nature.

Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare

Malvolio discovers a forged love letter planted by Maria, which he believes is from his mistress, Olivia. He meticulously analyzes the handwriting and cryptic riddles, ultimately falling into the trap of believing he is destined for greatness and Olivia's hand in marriage.

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare

Mark Antony delivers a masterful funeral oration for the assassinated Julius Caesar, strategically using irony to undermine the conspirators. He appeals to the emotions of the Roman citizens, highlighting Caesar's generosity and the brutality of his murder to incite the crowd to mutiny. The scene is a high-stakes display of rhetorical manipulation and political maneuvering.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by William Shakespeare

Oberon describes a lush, magical grove where Titania sleeps before plotting to use a magical flower juice to manipulate the affections of both his queen and a young Athenian man. He instructs his servant to use the potion to ensure a disdainful youth falls in love with the woman pursuing him.

The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

Disguised as a young lawyer, Portia delivers a powerful appeal for compassion during a high-stakes legal trial. She argues that mercy is a divine attribute that transcends earthly law and warns that a strict adherence to justice without pity will lead to a tragic outcome.

Henry IV, Part 1

by William Shakespeare

Prince Hal reveals his calculated plan to temporarily indulge in a rebellious lifestyle so that his eventual transformation into a noble king will appear more dramatic and impressive. He compares himself to the sun breaking through clouds, suggesting that his current 'idleness' is a strategic mask to manage public perception.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Prospero addresses the spirits of the island, recounting the immense supernatural feats he has achieved through his magic. He ultimately declares his intention to renounce his powers, break his staff, and drown his book of spells in favor of returning to the mortal world.

Richard III

by William Shakespeare

Richard gloats to the audience after successfully wooing Lady Anne over the literal corpse of her father-in-law, whom he murdered. He marvels at his own manipulative power and mockingly decides to invest in his appearance now that he has somehow 'crept in favour' with his victim.

As You Like It

by William Shakespeare

Rosalind breaks the fourth wall to deliver the play's epilogue, playfully acknowledging the conventions of theater and gender. She charms the audience by 'conjuring' both the men and women to like the play, using wit and a reference to her own cross-dressing disguise to secure their applause.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by William Shakespeare

Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, confronts Oberon about how their marital discord has caused a catastrophic imbalance in the natural world. She describes in vivid detail how their arguments have triggered floods, crop failures, and the blurring of the seasons, ultimately taking responsibility for the chaos they have unleashed upon the mortal realm.

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Hamlet berates himself for his perceived inaction and lack of passion compared to a professional actor's performance. He struggles with his own cowardice before devising a plan to use a theatrical performance to trap King Claudius and confirm his guilt.

The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

Shylock delivers a powerful defense of his humanity while justifying his quest for vengeance against those who have wronged him. He argues that Jews and Christians share the same physical and emotional vulnerabilities, concluding that he will follow the Christian example of seeking retribution.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Caliban describes the mystical and enchanting atmosphere of the island to his companions, revealing a sensitive and poetic side to his otherwise rugged nature. He speaks of the comforting music and vivid dreams that offer him a temporary escape from his harsh reality.