Ekleticgoodies

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616) remains widely to be considered the single greatest playwright of all time. He wrote in such a variety of genres - tragedy, comedy, romance, &c - that there is always at least one monologue in each of his plays. Some of these teach a lesson, some simply characterize Shakespeare at his best, some are funny, some sad, but all are very moving. Each monologue will touch everybody differently.  So here are the first fifteen monologues. 

Read by: Kirsten Ferreri

# Hamlet - To Thine Own Self Be True (Act 1, Scene 3) - 00:01:34

Read by: Shurtagal

# A Midsummer Night’s Dream - These Are the Forgeries of Jealousy (Act 2, Scene 1) - 00:03:11

Read by: Elizabeth Klett

# A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Sweet Moon I Thank Thee For Thy Sunny Beams (Act 5, Scene 1) - 00:03:05

Read by: Simon Taylor

# Henry V - Upon the King (Act 4, Scene 1) - 00:04:27

Read by: Simon Taylor

# Macbeth - They met me in the day of success (Act 1, Scene 5) - 00:02:20

Read by: Beth Peat

# Richard III - Set down, set down your honorable load (Act 1, Scene 2) - 00:02:52

Read by: Elizabeth Klett

# Richard III - When he that is my husband now (Act 4, Scene 1) - 00:02:30

Read by: Elizabeth Klett

# Hamlet - There is a willow (Act 4, Scene 7) - 00:02:26

Read by: Jennette Selig

# A Midsummer Night’s Dream - More Strange Than True (Act 5, Scene 1) - 00:02:14

Read by: Scott D. Farquhar

# Richard III - I Have Passed a Miserable Night (Act 1, Scene 4) - 00:04:19

Read by: Scott D. Farquhar

# Hamlet - O, What a Rogue and Peasant Slave Am I (Act 2, Scene 2) - 00:03:09

Read by: Michael Sirois

# A Midsummer Night’s Dream - I Know a Bank (Act 2, Scene 1) - 00:02:08

Read by: A.K.Farrar

# Troilus and Cressida - Ulysses’ speech on Time (Act 3, Scene 3) - 00:03:21

Read by: Elizabeth Klett

# King Lear - O! Reason not the need (Act 2, Scene 4) - 00:02:11

Read by: Chris Gladis