In Act 3, Scene 4 of William Shakespeare's King John, Constance, mother of Arthur, delivers a poignant monologue expressing her profound grief over the loss of her son and defending her sanity against accusations of madness.

Title of Monologue:

Constance's Monologue from Act 3, Scene 4 of King John

Synopsis:

Constance vehemently denies claims that she is mad, asserting her identity and the reality of her suffering. She laments that if she were truly mad, she might find relief by forgetting her sorrows. Instead, her clear awareness intensifies her anguish, leading her to contemplate death as an escape. Constance's grief is so consuming that she feels it fills the void left by her absent son, embodying his presence in her life.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Prior to this monologue, Constance's son, Arthur, has been captured by King John's forces. Constance's allies, including King Philip of France and Cardinal Pandulph, attempt to console her, but their efforts are perceived as dismissive. They suggest that her overwhelming sorrow borders on madness, prompting Constance to passionately defend her sanity and articulate the depth of her grief.

Original Text:

CONSTANCE:
Thou art not holy to belie me so;
I am not mad: this hair I tear is mine;
My name is Constance; I was Geffrey's wife;
Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost:
I am not mad: I would to heaven I were!
For then, 'tis like I should forget myself:
O, if I could, what grief should I forget!
Preach some philosophy to make me mad,
And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal;
For being not mad but sensible of grief,
My reasonable part produces reason
How I may be deliver'd of these woes,
And teaches me to kill or hang myself:
If I were mad, I should forget my son,
Or madly think a babe of clouts were he:
I am not mad; too well, too well I feel
The different plague of each calamity.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

CONSTANCE:
You are not righteous to accuse me falsely;
I am not mad: this hair I tear is my own;
My name is Constance; I was Geoffrey's wife;
Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost:
I am not mad: I wish to heaven I were!
For then, perhaps, I would forget myself:
Oh, if I could, what grief would I forget!
Teach me some philosophy to make me mad,
And you shall be canonized, cardinal;
For being sane but deeply grieving,
My rational mind reasons
How I may be freed from these woes,
And urges me to kill or hang myself:
If I were mad, I would forget my son,
Or madly think a doll were he:
I am not mad; too well, too well I feel
The distinct torment of each calamity.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

  • Belie: To misrepresent or falsely accuse.

  • Canonized: Declared a saint.

  • Sensible of grief: Fully aware of sorrow.

  • Babe of clouts: A rag doll.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

  1. Asserting Sanity and Identity:
    You are not righteous to accuse me falsely;
    I am not mad: this hair I tear is my own;
    My name is Constance; I was Geoffrey's wife;
    Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost:
    Constance affirms her sanity and recounts her identity and loss, emphasizing the reality of her suffering.

  2. Wishing for Madness as Escape:
    I am not mad: I wish to heaven I were!
    For then, perhaps, I would forget myself:
    Oh, if I could, what grief would I forget!
    She expresses a desire for madness, believing it would allow her to escape the pain of her memories.

  3. Irony of Rational Grief:
    Teach me some philosophy to make me mad,
    And you shall be canonized, cardinal;
    For being sane but deeply grieving,
    My rational mind reasons
    How I may be freed from these woes,
    And urges me to kill or hang myself:
    Constance ironically suggests that inducing madness would be a saintly act, as her rational mind only leads her to contemplate suicide as a release from her suffering.

  4. The Pain of Sanity:
    If I were mad, I would forget my son,
    Or madly think a doll were he:
    I am not mad; too well, too well I feel
    The distinct torment of each calamity.
    She laments that her sanity forces her to fully experience each aspect of her grief, whereas madness might offer the mercy of delusion or forgetfulness.

Journey Keypoints:

  • Hook: Constance denies accusations of madness and asserts her identity.

  • Turning Point: She wishes for madness as a means to forget her grief.

  • Climax: Constance contemplates death as a rational escape from her suffering.

  • Resolution: She concludes that her sanity intensifies her pain, as she is acutely aware of each calamity.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

  • Camille O'Sullivan: Portrayed Constance in a notable performance, delivering a moving rendition of this monologue.

This monologue delves into themes of grief, sanity, and the desire for escape, offering rich material for performance and analysis.