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| Character | Duchess???? | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | In love, Crying, Lamenting | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Year | 1883 | |
| Period | 19th Century | |
| Genre | Romance, Tragedy, Drama, Crime | |
| Description | The Duchess expresses her love for Guido after she kills the Duke | |
| Location | ACT III | |
Summary
After receiving a mysterious letter from a stranger, Guido travels to Padua and meets Count Moranzone. The Count tells him the story of his family, how his father was betrayed by the Duke of Padua, and later executed, and his mother died upon hearing the news of his father's death. The Count urges him to revenge his family and kill the Duke. After being introduced to the Duke, Guido becomes his close servant and meets the Duchess. They fall in love and declare their love for each other. When the time comes to kill the Duke, Guido tells the Duchess that he must avenge his father's death and they have to part forever. Guido, however, later decides to spare the Duke and tells Count Moranzone, who expresses his disappointment. In the meantime the Duchess, upset by Guido parting from her, takes the matter in her own hands and kills her husband. When she tells Guido that she did it for him, Guido rejects her.
In this monologue the Duchess expresses her love for Guido and begs him to understand that she killed her husband only to be closer to him.
In this monologue the Duchess expresses her love for Guido and begs him to understand that she killed her husband only to be closer to him.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| DUCHESS. Better for me I had not seen your face. [GUIDO recoils: she seizes his hands as she kneels.] Nay, Guido, listen for a while: Until you came to Padua I lived Wretched indeed, but with no murderous thought, Very submissive to a cruel Lord, Very obedient to unjust commands, As pure I think as any gentle girl Who now would turn in horror from my hands - [Stands up.] You came: ah! Guido, the first kindly words I ever heard since I had come from France Were from your lips: well, well, that is no matter. You came, and in the passion of your eyes I read love's meaning; everything you said Touched my dumb soul to music, so I loved you. And yet I did not tell you of my love. 'Twas you who sought me out, knelt at my feet As I kneel now at yours, and with sweet vows, [Kneels.] Whose music seems to linger in my ears, Swore that you loved me, and I trusted you. I think there are many women in the world Who would have tempted you to kill the man. I did not. Yet I know that had I done so, I had not been thus humbled in the dust, [Stands up.] But you had loved me very faithfully. [After a pause approaches him timidly.] I do not think you understand me, Guido: It was for your sake that I wrought this deed Whose horror now chills my young blood to ice, For your sake only. [Stretching out her arm.] Will you not speak to me? Love me a little: in my girlish life I have been starved for love, and kindliness Has passed me by. |
