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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

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  • shkspr
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite 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.

  • Anonymous
    6 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
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