Shakespeare's Greatest Monologues - Vol. II

By William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, long hailed as the history's greatest dramatic writer, has been lauded for his mastery of poetic expression, his insight into the human condition and his deep exploration into the psyche and motivations of his characters.  

These skills are perhaps best exemplified in the monologues he gives his v

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ft. Raphael Publishing Company
• Release date: Jun 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781949661538

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England’s Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children—an older daughter Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, died in childhood. The bulk of Shakespeare’s working life was spent in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright and poet, but also as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Although some think that sometime between 1610 and 1613 Shakespeare retired from the theater and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616, others believe that he may have continued to work in London until close to his death.

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cover-image, Shakespeare's Greatest Monologues - Vol. II - Draft #1

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Copyright © 2021 by Ft. Raphael Publishing Company

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Edited by Kevin Theis, Ft. Raphael Publishing Company

Front Cover Artwork and Graphics by Paul Stroili,

Touchstone Graphic Design, Chicago

Shakespeare’s Greatest

Monologues

VOLUME II

CONTENTS

I. Viola from Twelfth Night

II. Macbeth from Macbeth

III. Cleopatra from Antony and Cleopatra

IV. Prospero from "The Tempest

V. Paulina from The Winter's Tale

VI. Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing

VII. Constance from King John

VIII. Richard III from Richard III

IX. Joan from King Henry VI, Part I

X. Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream

XI. Cassius from Julius Caesar

XII. Romeo from Romeo and Juliet

XIII. Tamora from Titus Andronicus

XIV. Prince Hal from Henry IV, Part I

XV. Iago from Othello

VIOLA FROM TWELFTH NIGHT

A boat carrying twins Viola and Sebastian encounters a storm at sea and sinks. The twins are separated and Viola washes up on the shores of Illyria thinking her brother dead.

Alone and friendless in a strange country, she disguises herself as a boy (Cesario) and goes to work for Count Orsino. She immediately falls in love with the Count, but her circumstances prevent her from declaring her love.

Worse, Orsino is besotted with Lady Olivia who is in mourning for her late brother and will not entertain the Count's suit. Worse yet, it is Viola/Cesario whom Orisino sends to Olivia to plead for him.

As if matters were not dire enough, Olivia takes one look at Viola/Cesario and is instantly smitten. Cesario is perplexed and departs and Olivia, desperate for Cesario to return to her, send a ring after him. Here is Viola's bewildered response.

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