EASTER – Monologue (Eleanora)

A monologue from the play by August Strindberg

NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Easter and Stories. Trans. Velma Swanston Howard. Cincinnati: Stewart & Kidd Company, 1912.

ELEANORA

He may come, and we can go–from everything! — from all the old furniture which father has been accumulating for us,

and which I have seen ever since I was a little child. One should not own anything that binds one to earth.

Go out on the stony highways and wander with bleeding feet, for that way leads upwards, therefore it is difficult– [Pause] 

Do you know what I find hardest to part with? It is the old clock over there. That was here when I was born, and it has measured my hours and my days.

Hear how it beats, exactly like a heart. It stopped on the hour that grandfather died — for it was here even then.

Farewell, little clock, may you soon stop again! Do you know that it used to hasten when we had ill-luck in the house –

– as though it wanted to get past the evil, for our sakes, of course. But when the times were bright, it slowed down,

that we might enjoy them all the longer. It was the good clock. But we had a bad one too. It has to hang in the kitchen now.

The bad clock couldn’t tolerate music, and as soon as Elis touched the piano, it began striking. Not I alone, but all noticed it;

and that is why it has to stand in the kitchen. Lina does not like it, either, for it isn’t quiet at night, and she can’t boil eggs by it because they always become hard-boiled,

she says. Now you are laughing!

Read the play here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top