UNCLE VANYA
A monologue from the
play by Anton
Chekhov
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from The Moscow Arts Theatre Series of Plays. Ed. Oliver
M. Sayler. New York: Brentanos, 1922. |
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SONYA: What can we do? We must live out our lives.
[A pause] Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya. We shall live
all through the endless procession of days ahead of us, and through
the long evenings. We shall bear patiently the burdens that fate
imposes on us. We shall work without rest for others, both now
and when we are old. And when our final hour comes, we shall
meet it humbly, and there beyond the grave, we shall say that
we have known suffering and tears, that our life was bitter.
And God will pity us. Ah, then, dear, dear Uncle, we shall enter
on a bright and beautiful life. We shall rejoice and look back
upon our grief here. A tender smile -- and -- we shall rest.
I have faith, Uncle, fervent, passionate faith. We shall rest.
We shall rest. We shall hear the angels. We shall see heaven
shining like a jewel. We shall see evil and all our pain disappear
in the great pity that shall enfold the world. Our life will
be as peaceful and gentle and sweet as a caress. I have faith;
I have faith. [Wiping away her tears] My poor, poor Uncle
Vanya, you are crying! [Weeping] You have never known
what it is to be happy, but wait, Uncle Vanya, wait! We shall
rest. We shall rest. We shall rest.
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MONOLOGUES BY ANTON CHEKHOV |
