Macbeth · Act 4, Scene 3
Malcolm monologue from Macbeth
- Play
- William Shakespeare
- Men
- Playing age 20s–40s
- About 1:15
- Classical · verse
Malcolm’s monologue from the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Act 4, Scene 3). A classical piece for men with a playing age of 20s–40s, running about 1:15.
The full speech. Read it out loud twice before you start working it.
Malcolm’s monologue
Macduff, this noble passion,
Child of integrity, hath from my soul
Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth
By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me
From over-credulous haste: but God above
Deal between thee and me! for even now
I put myself to thy direction, and
Unspeak mine own detraction, here abjure
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature. I am yet
Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,
At no time broke my faith, would not betray
The devil to his fellow and delight
No less in truth than life: my first false speaking
Was this upon myself: what I am truly,
Is thine and my poor country's to command:
Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,
Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men,
Already at a point, was setting forth.
Now we'll together; and the chance of goodness
Be like our warranted quarrel!
Public domain text.
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About Macbeth
- Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy.
- By theatre superstition, actors avoid saying its name inside a theatre and call it "the Scottish play."
All 11 monologues from Macbeth All 135 William Shakespeare monologues
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