What is Rosaline's monolog in After Juliet when Rosaline is at Juliet's grave?

Answer 1

In "After Juliet," Rosaline's monologue at Juliet's grave is a poignant reflection on grief, loss, and the passage of time. Rosaline expresses her sorrow over Juliet's death and contemplates the fleeting nature of life. She also reflects on the impact of their love and friendship, highlighting the enduring bond between them even in death. Overall, Rosaline's monologue serves as a powerful moment of introspection and emotional depth in the play.

Answer 2

Rosaline Monologue

Your spirit haunts me, Juliet

I see more of you dead

than I did when you were alive...

that's a joke, more of you dead.

Go on laugh. And more of you alive than I wanted to.

Laugh. Laugh, go on.

Come on, Juliet.

We were hardly close as cousins.

You were too small, too pretty, too rich

Too thin and too much loved for me to cope with.

'Spoilt' is the word that springs to mind

though I don't want to speak ill of the dead.

(SHE TOUCHES THE FLOWER)

All a flower does is wither

It's the memories that stay forever

So they tell me

So what do I recall of you?

Juliet, daddy's princess, rich,

Mummy's darling, quite a bitch.

You scratched my face once, from here to here

I have the scar, I have it yet.

You can see it quite clearly in the sunlight;

A silver line

You wanted my favourite doll

And of course you got it

For though I was scarred, you cried.

And your nurse swooped down

And took the moppet from me

Spanked me hard for making you unhappy;

Gave my doll to you, her dearest baby.

Later you stole my best friend;

Wooed her with whisper;

Told her gossip's secrets;

Gave her trinkets, sweetmeats.

Later still, you took my love

And didn't know you'd done it;

Then having taken him

You let him die.

If you'd swallowed the friar's potion earlier

You would have wakened.

And my love would still be alive.

None of this would have happened.

I know you, Juliet.

You hesitated, frightened.

Didn't take the stuff until the dawn.

Wakened too late in the tomb.

In the night I dream of Romeo.

He's reaching his arms out from the vault.

The poison has him in its hold.

He fills my nights with his longing for life.

Until I am afraid to go to sleep.

For though I love him still

I cannot soothe his pain.

If I could, I would

But it is not me he's reaching out for.

So why, Juliet,

Should I spend my cash on flowers for you?

are you a saint simply because you were daft enough to die for love?

Love?

A passing fancy,

No more nor less.

Tomorrow or tomorrow or tomorrow

you would have tired of him.

Like your fancy for the doll;

Once possessed, you left it in the rain;

yesterday's fancy, mud in its hair,

Damp stained the dress Id made for her.

They think you brave to have taken your life

But you believed in immortality.

Daddys princess could not die.

she would be there at her own funeral

to watch the tears flow

and hear her praises sung.

So you haunt me.

Don't turn away.

Listen. Listen.

What is it that youv brought about?

What trail does your fancy drag behind?

What punishments lie in your fancys wake?

Listen Juliet.

Come here. Come close.

Press your ear to the earth so I know your listening.

There's a trial going on.

Even now in all solemnity.

Four lives hang on the balance

forced by your selfish suicide

To take their chance

Standing at the mercy of the court.

They wait to see weather life or death

is granted them by what we call justice

It's a strange justice.

Law meted out by the rich who measure their wisdom by the weight of their gold,

As if riches bear witness to virtue.

You and I know they don't.

So four poor people are brought before the prince

to see whether they live or die.

You brought this on them.

No feud wrought their trials.

Their misery is tribute to your precocity.

Married. And at thirteen!

So. So. Sweet Coz.

Here. This is the last flower

You'll get from me.

Death flowers have the sweetest scent

That's that bit done.

that's the full version.. you can make some cuts to suit yourselves.. =]