Othello · Act 1, Scene 3
Desdemona monologue from Othello
- Play
- William Shakespeare
- Women
- Playing age 20s–50s
- About 0:45
- Classical · verse
Desdemona’s monologue from the play Othello by William Shakespeare (Act 1, Scene 3). A classical piece for women with a playing age of 20s–50s, running about 0:45.
The full speech. Read it out loud twice before you start working it.
Desdemona’s monologue
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued
Even to the very quality of my lord:
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honour and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
Public domain text.
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About Othello
- Shakespeare based Othello on a story by the Italian writer Cinthio.
- Iago speaks more lines than Othello, the play's title character.
- The action moves from Venice to the island of Cyprus.
All 24 monologues from Othello All 135 William Shakespeare monologues
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