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Shakespeare's Monologues

Othello

Act 5, Scene 2

Monologue

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,—

Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!—

It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood;

Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,

And smooth as monumental alabaster.

Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.

Put out the light, and then put out the light:

If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,

I can again thy former light restore,

Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,

Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,

I know not where is that Promethean heat

That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,

I cannot give it vital growth again.

It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree.

Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade

Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.

Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,

And love thee after. One more, and this the last:

So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,

But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;

It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

 

Scored Monologue

Number of Syllables Scored Text Beat Objective
10

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,—

[Beat 1] to convince
10

Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!—

 
10

It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood;

[Beat 2] to dissuade
10 Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,  
11

And smooth as monumental alabaster.

 
10 Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. [Beat 3] to evaluate
10

Put out the light, and then put out the light:

 
10

If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,

 
10

I can again thy former light restore,

 
11 Should I repent me: but once put out thy light, [Beat 4] to scrutinize
11

Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,

 
11

I know not where is that Promethean heat

 
12 That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,  
10

I cannot give it vital growth again.

 
11 It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree.  
10

Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade 

 
10

Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.

[Beat 5] to avenge
11 Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,  
11

And love thee after. One more, and this the last:

[Beat 6] to relinquish 
10

So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,

 
12

But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;

 
8

It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

 

 

Definitions from David & Ben Crystal / Shakespeare's Words are under copyright, and may not be used without their express permission. All other definitions are from sources in the public domain.
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