Portia Monologue (Act 3, Scene 2)
Aww, Portia is falling in love! This monologue from The Merchant of Venice is a warm, engaging and active piece that is perfect for auditions. It’s also potentially a very comedic one. This piece is great...
Monologues Unpacked
Working on a Shakespeare monologue? Here’s our database of Shakespearean monologues that we’ve broken down, translated and explained. We’ve done all the hard work for you!
Get stuck into many of Shakespeare’s iconic monologues and learn how to truly bring them to life. These pages are all broken down by professional actors, who in many cases have played the roles. The monologues unpacked team includes Damien Strouthos, Jess Tovey and Andrew Hearle.
Claudio Monologue (Act 3, Scene 1)
Measure for Measure is often referred to as what’s known as a ‘Problem Play’. And it’s understandable why that might be. It is often times confusing as to whether this play is a comedy, a...
Nurse Monologue (Act 1, Scene 3)
When we think of memorable supporting characters in Shakespeare plays, it’s extremely unusual that a thought doesn’t cross our mind of Romeo and Juliet’s Nurse. So let’s take a look at one of her earlier...
Caliban Monologue (Act 1, Scene 2)
One of Shakespeare’s more misunderstood characters, particularly in Jacobean times, Caliban. Let’s take a look at a monologue for Caliban from the Tempest Act 1, Scene 2. C0ntext Prospero, a sorcerer, has been exiled to...
Biff Monologue (Act Two)
Death of a Salesman (1949) by Arthur Miller is one of the greatest plays of all time. Despite being close to a century old, it tackles the American Dream peerlessly—warning against belief and trust in...
Queen Margaret Monologue (Act 1, Scene 3)
Let’s break down Queen Margaret’s monologue from Act 1 Scene 3 of Richard the III. One of Shakespeares best known villains, Richard the III titular play is one filled with family drama, politics, war, cutting...
Horatio Monologue (Act 1, Scene 2)
Ever had to tell your best friend some unfortunate and unbelievable news? Like you just saw their dead dad as a ghost? You might relate to this speech by Horatio from Hamlet. Initially, this role...
Bleeding Captain Monologue (Act 1, Scene 2)
A deceptively difficult speech from the first act of Macbeth, this wonderfully epic tale of battle comes to us from the mouth of a character who we are meeting for the first time and we...
Benedick Monologue (Act 2 Scene 1)
The truth is, strange as it may be, Benedick loves nothing in the world so much as he loves Beatrice BUT it’s going to take him some time and some meddling tomfoolery to figure that...
Malvolio Monologue (Act 2, Scene 5)
Today we’re going to take a look at Malvolio’s letter monologue from Act 2, Scene 5 of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. In this monologue we’ll find dramatic irony, comedy, character and, in a big...