Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

Humanitad

by Oscar Wilde

A woman reflects on the end of a passionate relationship, using vivid natural imagery to reconcile the beauty of their past with the necessity of their parting. She urges her lover to accept that their individual paths—her beauty and his art—require them to exist in separate worlds.

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

A melancholic Romeo confides in his cousin Benvolio about his unrequited love for Rosaline. Benvolio attempts to offer comfort and practical advice, while Romeo uses poetic oxymorons to express the painful duality of his romantic obsession.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Prospero questions Ariel about the magical shipwreck he orchestrated, seeking confirmation that his enemies have been safely but terrifyingly dispersed. The scene shifts from a celebratory report of magical prowess to a tense power struggle as Ariel demands the freedom Prospero promised. The emotional stakes involve the balance between master and servant and the beginning of Prospero's final plan for justice.

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.

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.

Troilus and Cressida

by William Shakespeare

Troilus watches from the shadows as Cressida betrays him with Diomedes, leading to a fractured psychological breakdown. He struggles to reconcile the idealized woman he loves with the unfaithful woman he sees before him, questioning the very nature of identity and truth.

Love's Labour's Lost

by William Shakespeare

Berowne argues against the King's decree of three years of ascetic study, claiming that true knowledge is found in the world and in the eyes of women rather than in dusty books. He uses wit and wordplay to highlight the irony of blinding oneself through study to find 'light'.

Timon of Athens

by William Shakespeare

Timon, having abandoned society to live in a cave, delivers a misanthropic tirade against the corrupting nature of humanity and wealth. While digging for food, he discovers a hoard of gold and reflects on how money perverts all human values, turning the foul into the fair and the coward into the valiant.

The Three Sisters

by Anton Chekhov

Vershinin delivers a philosophical and hopeful vision of the future to the Prozorov sisters. He argues that while their current lives may feel stagnant or full of suffering, they are laying the essential groundwork for a beautiful world that their descendants will one day enjoy.

The Seagull

by Anton Chekhov

Konstantin spirals into a deep state of self-loathing and existential despair as he reflects on his failed literary career and his unrequited love for Nina. He expresses intense resentment toward his mother and the successful writer Trigorin, feeling trapped in a life devoid of purpose or affection.

The Seagull

by Anton Chekhov

Nina reflects on her identity and her unwavering ambition to become a world-renowned actress despite the hardships she anticipates. She uses the metaphor of a seagull to describe her need for freedom and her determination to escape her provincial life for the stage in Moscow.

The Seagull

by Anton Chekhov

Trigorin confesses the obsessive and draining nature of his creative process to Nina. He describes his life as a constant, involuntary cycle of observation and documentation that prevents him from truly experiencing reality.

The Cherry Orchard

by Anton Chekhov

Gayev delivers an absurdly sentimental and grandiloquent speech to an old piece of furniture, revealing his inability to face the reality of his family's financial ruin. He clings to the past and the 'noble ideals' represented by the bookshelf while the world around him moves toward modernization and the sale of his estate.

The Cherry Orchard

by Anton Chekhov

Varya expresses her deep-seated anxieties regarding her unmarried status and the uncertain future following the sale of the family estate. She grapples with feelings of being unwanted and the fear of being forced into a convent life despite her desire for love and a home of her own.

The Cherry Orchard

by Anton Chekhov

Lyubov Andreyevna gazes out at her family's estate, reflecting on her lost innocence and the tragic personal history that led her away from home. She grapples with the crushing guilt of her past mistakes and the impending loss of the orchard, which she views as an inseparable part of her soul.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Vanya desperately confesses his unrequited love and adoration for Yelena, the wife of the Professor. He confronts his own sense of wasted potential and misery, begging for her pity while acknowledging his own perceived insignificance in her eyes.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Astrov confesses his deep-seated cynicism and exhaustion to Yelena, mourning the loss of his youthful ideals. He reflects on the fleeting nature of beauty and the crushing weight of a life that has left him feeling spiritually and physically depleted.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Telegin reflects on his life of misfortune and the abandonment he suffered the day after his wedding. Despite a lifetime of loneliness and unrequited loyalty, he expresses a profound philosophy of endurance, hope, and the necessity of remaining a kind person.

As You Like It

by William Shakespeare

Disguised as the youth Ganymede, Rosalind delivers a sharp-witted rebuke to the shepherdess Phoebe for her cruel treatment of the devoted Silvius. She humbles Phoebe's vanity by critiquing her appearance and urges her to accept a good man's love while she has the chance.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Sonya attempts to comfort her despairing uncle by offering a vision of peace and spiritual redemption after a lifetime of toil. She argues that their current suffering and hard work will be rewarded in the afterlife, where they will finally find the rest that eludes them now.

Arms and the Man

by George Bernard Shaw

Louka challenges Sergius's notions of bravery and social standing, exposing the hypocrisy of the upper class. She asserts that true courage is found in following one's heart across class lines rather than adhering to societal expectations.

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Hester, a young American visitor, delivers a scathing critique of the English upper class's hypocrisy and moral decay. She challenges their superficial values and lack of spiritual depth, contrasting their wealth with their perceived spiritual poverty.