42 Best Anton Chekhov Monologues – Page 3 of 5

The Cherry Orchard (Trofimov)

Category: Play Role: Trofimov From: The Cherry Orchard

Trofimov says

All Russia is our orchard. The land is great and beautiful, there are many marvellous places in it.

(Pause)

Think, Anya, your grandfather, your great-grandfather, and all your ancestors were serf-owners, they owned living souls; and now, doesn’t something human look at you from every cherry in the orchard, every leaf and every stalk? Don’t you hear voices…? Oh, it’s awful, your orchard is terrible; and when in the evening or at night you walk through the orchard, then the old bark on the trees sheds a dim light and the old cherry-trees seem to be dreaming of all that was a hundred, two hundred years ago, and are oppressed their heavy visions. Still, at any rate, we’ve left those two hundred years behind us. So far we’ve gained nothing at all -we don’t yet know what the past is to be to us -we only philosophize, we complain that we are dull, or we drink vodka. For it’s so clear that in order to begin to live in the present we must first redeem the past, and that can only be done suffering, strenuous, uninterrupted labour. Understand that, Anya.

The Cherry Orchard (Trofimov)

Category: Play Role: Trofimov From: The Cherry Orchard

Trofimov says

The human race progresses, perfecting its powers. Everything that is unattainable now will some day be near at hand and comprehensible, but we must work, we must help with all our strength those who seek to know what fate will bring. Meanwhile in Russia only a very few of us work. The vast majority of those intellectuals whom I know seek for nothing, do nothing, and are at present incapable of hard work. They call themselves intellectuals, but they use “thou” and “thee” to their servants, they treat the peasants like animals, they learn badly, they read nothing seriously, they do absolutely nothing, about science they only talk, about art they understand little. They are all serious, they all have severe faces, they all talk about important things. They philosophize, and at the same time, the vast majority of us, ninety-nine out of a hundred, live like savages, fighting and cursing at the slightest opportunity, eating filthily, sleeping in the dirt, in stuffiness, with fleas, stinks, smells, moral filth, and so on… And it’s obvious that all our nice talk is only carried on to distract ourselves and others. Tell me, where are those créches we hear so much of? and where are those reading-rooms? People only write novels about them; they don’t really exist. Only dirt, vulgarity, and Asiatic plagues really exist…. I’m afraid, and I don’t at all like serious faces; I don’t like serious conversations. Let’s be quiet sooner.

The Cherry Orchard (Charlotta)

Category: Play Role: Charlotta From: The Cherry Orchard

Charlotta says

I haven’t a real passport. I don’t know how old I am, and I think I’m young. When I was a little girl my father and mother used to go round fairs and give very good performances and I used to do the salto mortale and various little things. And when papa and mamma died a German lady took me to her and began to teach me. I liked it. I grew up and became a governess. And where I came from and who I am, I don’t know…. Who my parents were -perhaps they weren’t married -I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I do want to talk, but I haven’t anybody to talk to… I haven’t anybody at all.

The Cherry Orchard (Ermolai Alexeyevitch Lopakhin)

Category: Play Role: Ermolai Alexeyevitch Lopakhin From: The Cherry Orchard

I did. I bought it. Wait a bit; don’t hurry me; my head’s in a whirl; I can’t speak. . . . [Laughing.] When we got to the sale, Deriganof was there already. Leonid Andreyitch had only fifteen hundred pounds, and Deriganof bid three thousand more than the mortgage right away. When I saw how things stood, I went for him and bid four thousand. He said four thousand five hundred. I said five thousand five hundred. He went up by five hundreds, you see, and I went up by thousands. . . . Well, it was soon over. I bid nine thousand more than the mortgage, and got it; and now the cherry orchard is mine! Mine! [Laughing.] Heavens alive! Just think of it! The cherry orchard is mine! Tell me that I’m drunk; tell me that I’m off my head; tell me that it’s all a dream! . . . [Stamping his feet.] Don’t laugh at me! If only my father and my grandfather could rise from their graves and see the whole affair, how their Yermolai, their flogged and ignorant Yermolai, who used to run about barefooted in the winter, how this same Yermolai had bought a property that hasn’t its equal for beauty anywhere in the whole world! I have bought the property where my father and grandfather were slaves, where they weren’t even allowed into the kitchen. I’m asleep, it’s only a vision, it isn’t real. . . . ‘T is the fruit of imagination, wrapped in the mists of ignorance. [Picking up Madame Ranevsky’s keys and smiling affectionately.] She’s thrown down her keys; she wants to show that she’s no longer mistress here. . . . [Jingles them together.] Well, well, what’s the odds? Hey, musicians play! I want to hear you. Come, every one, and see Yermolai Lopakhin lay his axe to the cherry orchard, come and see the trees fall down! We’ll fill the place with villas; our grandsons and great-grandsons shall see a new life here. . . . Strike up, music! Here comes the new squire, the owner of the cherry orchard!

The Cherry Orchard (Lubov)

Category: Play Role: Lubov From: The Cherry Orchard

Lubov says

What truth? You see where truth is, and where untruth is, but I seem to have lost my sight and see nothing. You boldly settle all important questions, but tell me, dear, isn’t it because you’re young, because you haven’t had time to suffer till you settled a single one of your questions? You boldly look forward, isn’t it because you cannot foresee or expect anything terrible, because so far life has been hidden from your young eyes? You are bolder, more honest, deeper than we are, but think only, be just a little magnanimous, and have mercy on me. I was born here, my father and mother lived here, my grandfather too, I love this house. I couldn’t understand my life without that cherry orchard, and if it really must be sold, sell me with it! My son was drowned here…. Have pity on me, good, kind man.

The Cherry Orchard (Lubov)

Category: Play Role: Lubov From: The Cherry Orchard

Lubov says

Oh, my sins…. I’ve always scattered money about without holding myself in, like a madwoman, and I married a man who made nothing but debts. My husband died of champagne -he drank terribly -and to my misfortune, I fell in love with another man and went off with him, and just at that time -it was my first punishment, a blow that hit me right on the head -here, in the river… my boy was drowned, and I went away, quite away, never to return, never to see this river again…I shut my eyes and ran without thinking, but he ran after me… without pity, without respect. I bought a villa near Mentone because he fell ill there, and for three years I knew no rest either day or night; the sick man wore me out, and my soul dried up. And last year, when they had sold the villa to pay my debts, I went away to Paris, and there he robbed me of all I had and threw me over and went off with another woman. I tried to poison myself…. It was so silly, so shameful…. And suddenly I longed to be back in Russia, my own land, with my little girl….

(Wipes her tears)

Lord, Lord be merciful to me, forgive me my sins! Punish me no more! I had this to-day from Paris…. He begs my forgiveness, he implores me to return…. Don’t I hear music?

The Cherry Orchard (Madame Ranevsky)

Category: Movie Role: Madame Ranevsky From: The Cherry Orchard

Why doesn’t Leoníd come? Oh, if only I knew whether the property’s sold or not! It seems such an impossible disaster, that I don’t know what to think. . . . I’m bewildered . . . I shall burst out screaming, I shall do something idiotic. Save me, Peter; say something to me, say something. You can see what’s truth and untruth, but I seem to have lost the power of vision; I see nothing. You settle every important question so boldly; but tell me, Peter, isn’t that because you’re young, because you have never solved any question of your own as yet by suffering? You look boldly ahead; isn’t it only that you don’t see or divine anything terrible in the future; because life is still hidden from your young eyes? You are bolder, honester, deeper than we are, but reflect, show me just a finger’s breadth of consideration, take pity on me. Don’t you see? I was born here, my father and mother lived here, and my grandfather; I loved this house; without the cherry orchard my life has no meaning for me, and if it must be sold, then for heaven’s sake sell me too! My little boy was drowned here. Be gentle with me, dear, kind Peter. I am so wretched today, you can’t imagine! All this noise jars on me, my heart jumps at every sound. I tremble all over; but I can’t shut myself up; I am afraid of the silence when I’m alone. Don’t be hard on me, Peter; I love you like a son. I would gladly let Anya marry you, I swear it; but you must work, Peter; you must get your degree. You do nothing; Fate tosses you about from place to place; and that’s not right. It’s true what I say, isn’t it? And you must do something to your beard to make it grow better. I can’t help laughing at you. It’s a telegram from Paris. I get them every day. One came yesterday, another today. That savage is ill again; he’s in a bad way. . . . He asks me to forgive him, he begs me to come; and I really ought to go to Paris and be with him. You look at me sternly; but what am I to do, Peter? What am I to do? He’s ill, he’s lonely, he’s unhappy. Who is to look after him? Who is to keep him from doing stupid things? Who is to give him his medicine when it’s time? After all, why should I be ashamed to say it? I love him, that’s plain. I love him, I love him. . . . My love is like a stone tied round my neck; it’s dragging me down to the bottom; but I love my stone. I can’t live without it. Don’t think ill of me, Peter; don’t say anything! Don’t say anything!

The Bear (Smirnov)

Category: Play Role: Smirnov From: The Bear

Smirnov says

Ill and isn’t receiving! All right, it isn’t necessary. I won’t receive either. I’ll sit here and stay until you bring that money. If you’re ill a week, I’ll sit here a week. If you’re ill a year, I’ll sit here a year. As heaven is a witness I’ll get my money. You don’t disturb me with your mourning -or with your dimples. We know these dimples!

(He calls out the window.)

Simon, unharness. We aren’t going to leave right away. I am going to stay here. Tell them in the stable to give the horses some oats. The left horse has twisted the bridle again.

(Imitating him.)

Stop. I’ll show you how. Stop.

(Leaves window.)

It’s awful. Unbearable heat, no money, didn’t sleep well last night and now mourning-dresses with moods. My head aches, perhaps I ought to have a drink. Ye-s, I must have a drink.

(Calling.)

Servant!

The Anniversary (Tatiana Alexeyevna)

Category: Play Role: Tatiana Alexeyevna From: The Anniversary

Tatiana Alexeyevna says

It’s time I went home…. But I haven’t done yet…. I’ll finish in one minute and go away…. What a time we had! Yes, what a time! We went to spend the evening at the Berezhnitskys…. It was all right, quite fun, but nothing in particular…. Katya’s devoted Grendilevsky was there, of course…. Well, I talked to Katya, cried, and induced her to talk to Grendilevsky and refuse him. Well, I thought, everything’s, settled the best possible way; I’ve quieted mamma down, saved Katya, and can be quiet myself…. What do you think? Katya and I were going along the avenue, just before supper, and suddenly… And suddenly we heard a shot…. No, I can’t talk about it calmly! No, I can’t!

The Anniversary (Tatiana Alexeyevna)

Category: Play Role: Tatiana Alexeyevna From: The Anniversary

Tatiana Alexeyevna says

In a minute, in a minute. I’ll tell you everything in one minute and go. I’ll tell you from the very beginning. Well…. When you were seeing me off, you remember I was sitting next to that stout lady, and I began to read. I don’t like to talk in the train. I read for three stations and didn’t say a word to anyone…. Well, then the evening set in, and I felt so mournful, you know, with such sad thoughts! A young man was sitting opposite me -not a bad-looking fellow, a brunette…. Well, we fell into conversation…. A sailor came along then, then some student or other…. I told them that I wasn’t married… and they did look after me! We chattered till midnight, the brunette kept on telling the most awfully funny stories, and the sailor kept on singing. My chest began to ache from laughing. And when the sailor -oh, those sailors! -when he got to know my name was TATIANA, you know what he sang? (Sings in a bass voice) “Onegin don’t let me conceal it, I love Tatiana madly!”