Actorama
  • Forgot Password?
  • HOME
  • CASTING CALLS
  • MONOLOGUES
  • SCENES
  • EXTRAS CASTING
  • NEWS
  • UPGRADE TO PRO

UPLOAD MONOLOGUE OR SCENE


  • Go Back
  • Search Again

Start with as low as $10/Month




"Ellen Schoeters is a member of Actorama + where actors can upload a monologue or scene performance for peer review. What do you think of Ellen Schoeters's performance?"



  1. Home
  2. Scene for Men
  3. Dramatic Scene for Men
  4. Henry VI Part 2
  • A Scene for 2 characters from the play "Henry VI Part 2" by William Shakespeare
0 (0 votes)
Character Gloucester, the Protector of the Realm Duchess, Gloucester's wife
Scene type / Who are Married
Type Dramatic
Period Renaissance
Genre Historical, Drama
Props A staff (a stick or a cane)
Description Gloucester is surprised by his wife's thoughts
Location ACT I, Scene 2

Summary

Gloucester, the Protector of England, talks to his wife Eleanor. She asks him why he looks so sad. She asks if he is dreaming about Henry's throne and if so to do something about it.

Gloucester urges her not to have such ambitious thoughts and that he supports King Henry. What is making him sad are the dreams that he had the night before, that is his staff was broken in two and the heads of Somerset and Suffolk on top of them.

She tells him she had a dream too, that is that she was crowned queen of England at Westminster Abbey with King Henry and Margaret at her feet.

Gloucester is surprised and urges his wife not to have such treacherous thoughts. As Gloucester leaves she considers how, if she were in her husband's place, would pursue the throne with more determination but being a woman she has to be subtle with her schemes.

Written by Administrator

Excerpt
[Enter GLOUCESTER and his DUCHESS]

DUCHESS
Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn,
Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Enchased with all the honours of the world?
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine:
And, having both together heaved it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight so low
As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

GLOUCESTER
O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts.
And may that thought, when I imagine ill
Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
My troublous dream this night doth make me sad.

DUCHESS
What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it
With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.

GLOUCESTER
Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,
Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot,
But, as I think, it was by the cardinal;
And on the pieces of the broken wand
Were placed the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole, first duke of Suffolk.
This was my dream: what it doth bode, God knows.

DUCHESS
Tut, this was nothing but an argument
That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
Methought I sat in seat of majesty
In the cathedral church of Westminster,
And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd;
Where Henry and dame Margaret kneel'd to me
And on my head did set the diadem.

GLOUCESTER
Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:
Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,
Art thou not second woman in the realm,
And the protector's wife, beloved of him?
Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy husband and thyself
From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more!

DUCHESS
What, what, my lord! are you so choleric
With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be cheque'd.

GLOUCESTER
Nay, be not angry; I am pleased again.

[Enter Messenger]

Messenger
My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure
You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,
Where as the king and queen do mean to hawk.

GLOUCESTER
I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?

DUCHESS
Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.

[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Messenger]

Follow I must; I cannot go before,
While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks
And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
And, being a woman, I will not be slack
To play my part in Fortune's pageant.
Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,
We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

Comments

Administrator

Gloucester appears sad and thoughtful at the beginning. The Duchess is presented right away as a scheming ambitious woman as she urges her husband to put his sights on the English crown. She acts as a caring and loving wife but wastes no time in expressing her ambitions.

Gloucester is surprised by his wife's thoughts. He is also confused by the malicious dreams he had the night before.

As Eleanor passionately describes her dreams of being crowned Gloucester gets angry and tells her not to have such treacherous thoughts.

The Duchess gets upset and turns her back to him. Gloucester apologizes.

As Gloucester leaves she expresses her schemes to get to the throne addressing the audience.

Back to Main Page

Back to Main Page

Back to Main Page

Back to Main Page


Back to Main Page


Back to Main Page

AVI, MPEG, MPG, VOB, QT, MOV, 3GP, FLV (except h264) allowed. Up to 100Mb file size.
OR


Submit your comments


logo
  • About
  • Terms of Service
  • Search Members
  • Virtual Casting Room
  • Site Map
  • Actor Profiles
  • Casting Profiles
  • Help
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 | All Right Reserved