The Stronger Monologue Essay Example For Students

The Stronger Monologue Essay A monologue from the play by August Strindberg NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Plays by August Strindberg. Trans. Edith and Warner Oland. Boston: John W. Luce and Co., 1912. MME. X: Our acquaintance has been so queer. When I saw you for the first time I was afraid of you, so afraid that I didn\t dare let you out of my sight; no matter when or where, I always found myself near youI didn\t dare have you for an enemy so I became your friend. But there was always discord when you came to our house, Because I saw that my husband couldn\t endure you, and the whole thing seemed as awry to me as an ill-fitting gownand I did all I could to make him friendly toward you, but with no success until you became engaged. Then came a violent friendship between you, so that it looked all at once as though you both dared show your real feelings only when you were secureand thenhow was it later? I didn\t get jealousstrange to say! And I remember at the christening, when you acted as godmother, I made him kiss youhe did so, and you became so confusedas it were; I didn\t notice it thendidn\t think about it later, eitherhave never thought about it untilnow! Why are you silent ? You haven\t said a word this whole time, but you have let me go on talking! You have sat there, and your eyes have reeled out at me all these thoughts which lay like raw silk in its cocoonthoughtssuspicious thoughts, perhaps. Why did you break your engagement? Why do you never come to our house any more? Why won\t you come to see us tonight? You needn\t speakI understand it all! It was becauseand becauseyes! Yes, now all the accounts balance. That\s it. Fie, I won\t sit at the same table with you. That\s the reason I had to embroider tulipswhich I hateon his slippers, because you are fond of tulips; that\s why we go to Lake Malarn in the summer, because you don\t like salt water; that\s why my boy is named Eskilbecause it\s your father\s name; that\s way I wear your clothes, read your authors, eat your favorite dishes, drink your drinksthat\s whyohmy Godit\s terrible. Everything. Everything came from you to me. Your soul crept into mine, like a worm into an apple, ate and ate, bo red and bored, until nothing was left but the rind and a little black dust within. I wanted to get away from you, but I couldn\t; you lay like a snake and charmed me with your black eyes; I felt that when I lifted my wings they only dragged me down; I lay in the water with bound feet, and the stronger I strove to keep up the deeper I worked myself downuntil I sank to the bottom, where you lay like a giant crab to clutch me in your clawsand there I am lying now.