A monologue from the play by Anton Chekov
MASHA (twenty three)
I want to confess my sins, dear sisters. My soul is yearning. I’m going to confess to you and never again to anyone…
I’ll tell you this minute [softly]. It’s my secret, but you must know everything…. I can’t be silent… [a pause]. I’m in love, I’m in love…
I love that man…. You have just seen him… Well, I may as well say it. I love Vershinin. […] But what am I to do? [Clutches her head.]
At first I thought him strange… then I was sorry for him… then I came to love him… to love him with his voice, his words, his misfortunes, his two little girls…
Oh, sister, you are silly. I love him — so that’s my fate. It means that that’s my lot… And he loves me… It’s all terrifying. Yes? Is it wrong?
[Takes IRINA by the hand and draws her to herself]
Oh, my darling… How are we going to live our lives, what will become of us?.. When you read a novel it all seems trite and obvious,
but when you’re in love yourself you see that no one knows anything and we all have to settle things for ourselves…
My darlings, my sisters… I’ve confessed it to you, now I’ll hold my tongue… I’ll be like Gogol’s madman… silence… silence…