Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Help me understand my Shakespeare monologue?
I'm learning this monologue for an audition and I really want to make sure that I have the right emotions and context in mind while I memorize. It's from Two Gentlemen of Verona, it's Julia's monologue after she rips up Proteus' letter.
Nay, would I were so angered with the same
Oh hateful hands, to tear such loving words!
Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey
And kill the bees that yield it with your stings.
I'll kiss each several paper for amends.
Look, here is writ 'kind Julia.' Unkind Julia!
As in revenge of thy ingratitude
I throw thy name against the bruising stones
Trampling contemptuously on thy disdain.
And here is writ 'love-wounded Proteus!'
Oh poor wounded name! My bosom as a bed
Shall lodge thee til thy wound be thoroughly healed
And thus I search it with a sovereign kiss.
But twice or thrice was 'Proteus' written down.
Be calm, good wind, blow not a word away
Til I have found each letter in the letter.
Except mine own name: that some whirlwind bear
Unto a ragged and fearful-hanging rock
And throw it thence into the raging sea.
Lo, here on one line is his name twice writ.
'Poor forlorn Proteus, passionate Proteus,
To the sweet Julia:' that i'll tear away
Yet I will not, sith so prettily
He couples it to his complaining names.
Thus will I fold them one on another
Now kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will.
I understand it overall, but I want general context subtleties...like, for example, did she already rip up the letter or is she in the process of it when she realizes it's a bad idea? And, while saying these lines, is she trying to put the letter back together? She's still in love with Proteus? What does she go on to do after this monologue is over?
Anything helps, but serious answers only, please. :)
2 Answers
- shksprLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
This is really a great monologue, and can be EXTREMELY funny when performed well.
Thank you for including your own thoughts on the piece. I believe you're on exactly the right track.
Let me help you with one little bit of direction. BEGIN the performance by actually tearing the paper...or miming that action. You see, what Julia is doing is merely a charade for the benefit of Lucetta (Julia's servant). Lucetta is teasing Julia for her love for Proteus, and Julia is trying to prove that she doesn't really love him. So, she tears up Proteus' letter before even reading it.
So, start by tearing the letter. Then, add the line (to Lucetta): "Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie." Then, after you "see" Lucetta leave, you start again. And, of COURSE, what Julia is trying desperately to do is to put the torn pieces back together again, so that she can see what Proteus had to say to her.
The comedy of the piece lies in the back-and-forth between two distinct attitudes. There's the dreamy "I love Proteus" attitude, and that is constantly being answered the the "Bad Julia!" attitude, as she takes herself to task for having dealt so harshly with Proteus' letter.
It's a beautiful piece; good luck with it.
- Anonymous6 years ago
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Help me understand my Shakespeare monologue?
I'm learning this monologue for an audition and I really want to make sure that I have the right emotions and context in mind while I memorize. It's from Two Gentlemen of Verona, it's Julia's monologue after she rips up Proteus' letter.
Nay, would I were so angered with the...
Source(s): understand shakespeare monologue: https://tr.im/jpi7v