King Lear · Act 2, Scene 4
King Lear monologue from King Lear
- Play
- William Shakespeare
- Men
- Playing age 40s–60s
- About 1:30
- Classical · verse
King Lear’s monologue from the play King Lear by William Shakespeare (Act 2, Scene 4). A classical piece for men with a playing age of 40s–60s, running about 1:30.
The full speech. Read it out loud twice before you start working it.
King Lear’s monologue
O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady:
If only to go warm were gorgeous,
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need-
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
As full of grief as age; wretched in both.
If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much
To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
And let not women's weapons, water drops,
Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags!
I will have such revenges on you both
That all the world shall- I will do such things-
What they are yet, I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth! You think I'll weep.
No, I'll not weep.
I have full cause of weeping, but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!
Public domain text.
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About King Lear
- King Lear is based on the legend of Leir, a king of pre-Roman Britain.
- In 1681 Nahum Tate rewrote it with a happy ending, and his version held the stage for about 150 years.
All 7 monologues from King Lear All 135 William Shakespeare monologues
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