Potential Monologue #2: Macbeth - William Shakespeare

To be thus is nothing,

But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo

Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature

Reigns that which would be feared. 'Tis much he dares,

And to that dauntless temper of his mind

He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor

To act in safety. There is none but he

Whose being I do fear, and under him

My genius is rebuked, as it is said

Mark Antony’s was by Caesar. He chid the sisters

When first they put the name of king upon me

And bade them speak to him. Then, prophetlike,

They hailed him father to a line of kings.

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown

And put a barren scepter in my grip,

Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,

No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so,

For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;

For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;

Put rancors in the vessel of my peace

Only for them; and mine eternal jewel

Given to the common enemy of man,

To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!

Rather than so, come fate into the list,

And champion me to th' utterance.

I have already read Macbeth, and studied it for my English Literature A-Level. However, I would like to re-read it to ensure I understand the depths of the character at this point in the narrative. This monologue is one that I found from the list given by Royal Central as a requirement for their audition. They ask for two classical speeches from the list, and upon reviewing those choices given, I have found that this one is a strong option. Most auditionees are likely to choose the ones that they think no one will go for, be it King Lear or The Duchess of Malfi, however I know Macbeth extremely well, and Shakespeare as an author, and so I feel my strength lies in choosing the more obvious ones, to be different from the other students auditioning and to show my knowledge of the texts via my portrayal of Shakespeare's characters.

With regards to my own performance, I feel, like the Barbarians monologue, I can reach an emotional connection with the audience through my strength in hard-hitting, aggrevated character performances. I feel that my strengths lie in more serious performances as a whole, and so this is a good choice for the Royal Central audition in my opinion.