9 of the Best Monologues from the Scorned Lover
Written by Meghan Mitchell
February 8, 2017
Looking for a monologue that faces the scandal and woe of being the scorned lover? Being in love is no easy feat, especially when the one you love cannot find a way to love you back. Whether these characters are desperately pleading for love, are hurting their lover through selfish acts, or trying to come to terms with being the ‘one on the side’, each one of these individuals are finding that love is no easy game to play.
A monologue from White Suits in Summer by Rosary O’Neill
(Female, Dramatic, 20s-50s)
This contemporary romantic comedy exposes life in the topsy-turvy world of art in New Orleans. Celebrity artist Susanne determines to reclaim her lost love, Blaise, now married to a sedate New Orleans socialite. Convinced that without him she cannot live, Susanne arranges an exhibition of her works in his new house on Exposition Blvd. Susanne’s readiness to sacrifice her career, his new wife, and her Mama’s boy manager leave Blaise both angry and aroused. In this monologue, Susanne lures her ex into burning her paintings.
A monologue from Hamlet by William Shakespeare
(Male, Dramatic, Teens-20s)
Immediately following Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech, Ophelia enters and finds a Hamlet she does not recognize; he has gone mad. In this monologue, Hamlet debases Ophelia, dismissing her chastity and rejecting his own self-worth. Hamlet wishes that Ophelia be gone from his sight, “to a nunnery,” so that he may tarnish her no longer. He ridicules her so that she may still keep her innocence.
A monologue from Delirium by Enda Walsh
(Female, Serio-Comedic, 20s)
Delirium is based on The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. It follows the story of three brothers, Mitya, Ivan and Alyosha, and their dissolute father Fyodor. Mitya is engaged to be married to Katerina but is in love with his father’s whore Grushenka. Ivan meanwhile is besotted by Katerina, but his feelings are not reciprocated. Here, Katerina explains to Ivan that, even if Mitya breaks off their engagement to be with Grushenka, she will continue to adore him. Katerina has confused being in pain with being in love. Although the speech is comic, we are reminded of something very real and tragic about the way some women allow themselves to be abused.
A monologue from The Princess of Caspia by Ricardo Soltero
(Male, Dramatic, 20s-50s)
Simon and Rhonda are having an affair. Simon wants Rhonda to break up with her husband, and Rhonda will not do it. Simon’s devotion to Rhonda is tearing him apart. Rhonda tells him that his pleads for her to leave her husband are uninspiring. Simon has inspired her to do things before, but this attempt has been a fruitless effort on his part. Here, he expresses his devotion to her.
A monologue from Uncle Victor by Rosary O’Neill
(Male, Dramatic, 20s-50s)
Uncle Victor is a historical comedy inspired by the classic Russian play, Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov. In this version O’Neill takes the structure of Uncle Vanya and some characters and places them on Waverly Plantation in 1899 Louisiana. The Louisiana story perfectly parallels the situation in turn-of-the century Russia, where a new urban economy was destroying the country’s agrarian base. While Russians were suffering from typhoid and peasants were going hungry, Southerners were dying from yellow fever and displaced farmers were starving in the late 19th Century. In this monologue, the Doctor lures a young bride with his desperate passion, knowing she does not love her husband.
A monologue from Eight by Ella Hickson
(Female, Dramatic, 20s)
The speech is the beginning of a longer monologue in which Astrid contemplates the causes and ramifications of infidelity. She has just returned home after a night out, having slept with another man. She is a little drunk. As with the other characters in the series, Astrid has grown up in a culture that is primarily materialistic. As Ella Hickson writes in her introduction to the play, ‘a world in which the central value system is based on an ethic of commercial, aesthetic and sexual excess’.
Dinner at Canales by Tara Meddaugh
(Female, Dramatic, 20s-50s)
This monologue is not from a play. It is a standalone piece. A couple sits at a table; Vicky has found evidence that her husband has been cheating on her and she now confronts her husband. There is a gun on the table between them, and she implores him to lie to her, so that she is not tempted to actually use the gun against him.
A monologue from Wild by Crystal Skillman
(Male, Dramatic, 20s-40s)
During an early afternoon on the shore of a beach, Vin, a stranger Peter has never met before today, is sitting on his towel. Peter is struggling with low self worth and venting to Vin, who is willingly listening to Peter’s troubles. Peter’s father is dying, and his family does not accept that Peter is gay. His family passive-aggressively blames Peter for his father being in the hospital. In addition, Peter has been unfaithful to Bobby, his partner, and slept with a woman.
A monologue from Love (Awkwardly) by John Rotondo and Maryann Carolan
(Female, Dramatic, Teens-Early 20s)
This monologue is intercut with another monologue by Randy. Both characters articulate how it feels to be secretly seeing each other. Randy is dating Charlotte; Charlotte’s best friend Laura is seeing Randy on the sly. In this monologue, Laura describes how she accidentally happened upon this situation and how she deals with this secret affair emotionally.
Looking for other monologue collections? Check out the ones below!
- 10 Monologues from Latino, Latina, and Hispanic Characters
- 10 Monologue from Characters Coping With Mental Illness
- 10 Comedic Monologues from Characters Suffering an Identity Crisis
- 10 Monologues from Characters Seeking Approval
- 10 Monologues from Characters Who Need to Apologize
- 10 Monologues from Male Characters: Fathers, Brothers, and Sons
- 10 Monologues for Women Who Speak Their Mind
- 10 Greek and Roman Monologues for Men
- 10 Monologues for People Who Have a Bone to Pick
- 10 Great Monologues from LGBTQ-Identifying Characters
- 10 Monologues for Characters Who Have Theatre on the Brain
- 10 Male Monologues from Characters Dealing With Death
- 10 Great Shakespearean Monologues for Women
- 10 Great Shakespearean Monologues for Men