CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 1 Julius (Romeo & Juliet) SITUATION: Julius, a young man, is finding himself in love with Romeo, a young man who he just met at a party. Now, that young man has appeared outside Julius’ bedroom window. JULIUS Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'and I will take thy word. Yet if thou swear'st, thhou mayst prove false. At lovers' perjuries they say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light. But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, My true love's passion. Therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 2 Portia (Julius Caesar) Situation: The speaker is an ailing man who is addressing his wife. She is a powerful political figure, and appears distressed by a secret agitation. You have ungently stole from our bed: and yesternight, at supper, You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across. And when I ask'd you what the matter was, You too impatiently stamp'd with your foot. And with an angry wafture of your hand, Gave sign for me to leave you. so I did. This affliction will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, And could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, I should not know you. Dearest wife, make me acquainted with your cause of grief. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 3 Emilia (The Two Noble Kinsmen) SITUATION: A young woman remembers a friend who has died. The love she felt for her friend leaves her unable to love any man. EMILIA: I was acquainted once with a time when I enjoyed a playfellow. She was too young when she the grave enriched, Who made too proud the bed. I and she were things innocent, But we each other loved. What she liked, was then of me approved, what not, condemned. The flower that I would pluck and put between my breasts— O, then but beginning to swell about the blossom— she would seek till she had such another, and commit it to the like innocent cradle, where, Phoenix-like, they died in perfume. Her clothing—pretty, Though haply hers careless were— I followed for my most serious decking. Had mine ear stol’n some new tune, or perhaps hummed one From musical coinage, why, it was a song whereon her spirits would dwell— And sing it in her slumbers. This story has this end, That the true love ’tween maid and maid may be More than this of different sex. I shall never—Love any that’s called man. I am sure I shall not. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 4 Margaret (Henry VI, Part 3) Situation: Margaret has just learned that her husband has made a deal with his enemies. They will allow him to remain king until he dies, but afterwards, his son will not become king. Ah, wretched man! Would I had died a maid and never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father. Hath thy son deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have disinherited thine only son. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 5 Lord Capulet (Romeo and Juliet) Situation: Lord Capulet has arranged a marriage between his daughter, Juliet, and a rich young man, Paris. Juliet has just informed her father that she does not wish to marry Paris. CAPULET God's bread! it makes me mad: Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, Alone, in company, still my care hath been To have you match'd: and having now provided A gentleman of noble parentage, Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly train'd, Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts, Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man; And then to have a wretched puling fool, To answer 'I'll not wed; I cannot love; I pray you, pardon me.' But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you: Graze where you will you shall not house with me: Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise: An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good: Trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 6 Decius Brutus (Julius Caesar) Situation: Decius is in on a plot to assassinate Caesar. Decius has just arrived at the home of Caesar to escort Caesar to the Senate where the assassination is to occur. Caesar has decided not to go out today because Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, has had an ominous dream warning of great danger if Caesar should leave the house. Decius must convince Caesar that the dream is a sign of good things to come. DECIUS. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bathed, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood. This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. And know it now, the Senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for someone to say "Break up the Senate till another time, When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams." If Caesar hide, shall they not whisper "Lo, Caesar is afraid"? Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love To your advancement bids me tell you this, And reason to my love is liable. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 7 Narrator William Shakespeare: the most produced playwright in the history of the world. His insights into the human condition have resonated with global audiences for over four centuries. But like most playwrights, Shakespeare’s plays are heavily influenced by the culture of the time in which his plays were written . Words like “homosexual,” “lesbian,” and “bisexual” did not exist in Elizabethan language. And sexual encounters between same-sex couples were illegal and societally scorned. So, although gay love certainly existed in Elizabethan England it was most like camouflaged. So, some of Shakespeare’s plays, such as As You Like It and Twelfth Night, derive amusement from some such flirtations. And most of Shakespeare’s sonnets are written to his “lovely boy,” It is not a great stretch to imagine a sexual yearning in those sonnets. CALLBACK MONOLOGUE 8 Prince Henry (Henry IV, Part 1) PRINCE HENRY I know you all, and will awhile uphold The unyoked humor of your idleness: Yet herein will I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up her beauty from the world, That, when she please again to be herself, Being wanted, she may be more wonder'd at, By breaking through the foul and ugly mists Of vapors that did seem to strangle her. If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work; But when they seldom come, they wish'd for come, And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents. CALLBACK SCENE A Romeo & Julius (Romeo & Juliet) Situation: Two teenage boys, from feuding families, have met at a party. It was love at first sight. Later the same night, Romeo has shown up in Julius’ backyard to confess his love for Julius. JULIUS: Dost thou love me? ROMEO: By yonder blessed moon I swear-- JULIUS: O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. ROMEO: What shall I swear by? JULIUS: Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, And I'll believe thee. ROMEO: If my heart's dear love— JULIUS: Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night: It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night! ROMEO: O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? JULIUS: What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? ROMEO: The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. JULIUS: I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again. ROMEO: Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? JULIUS: But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. Nurse calls within I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! Stay but a little, I will come again.