Phoebe’s Monologue: Act 3, Scene 5

"I would not be thy executioner…"

This witty and scornful monologue from As You Like It highlights Phoebe's sharp tongue and her rejection of Silvius’s declarations of love. Through biting humour and disdain, she dismisses the idea that her eyes have caused Silvius emotional or physical harm.

Synopsis

Phoebe, the proud and aloof shepherdess, rebukes Silvius, the shepherd who passionately loves her. In her monologue, she mocks his claims that her gaze has inflicted wounds on him, insisting that eyes are incapable of such harm. She accuses Silvius of exaggeration and challenges him to show any proof of his supposed injuries.

What’s Just Happened Before This Moment That’s Relevant to the Scene?

Silvius, hopelessly in love with Phoebe, has been persistently professing his feelings despite her cruel rejections. Prior to this monologue, Silvius likens Phoebe’s gaze to a weapon that has caused him pain. Frustrated and unimpressed, Phoebe responds with sharp humour and incredulity, turning his romantic imagery into a subject of ridicule.

Original Text

I would not be thy executioner.
I fly thee, for I would not injure thee.
Thou tell’st me there is murder in mine eye.
'Tis pretty, sure, and very probable
That eyes, that are the frail’st and softest things,
Who shut their coward gates on atomies,
Should be called tyrants, butchers, murderers.
Now I do frown on thee with all my heart,
And if mine eyes can wound, now let them kill thee.
Now counterfeit to swoon; why, now fall down;
Or if thou canst not, O, for shame, for shame,
Lie not, to say mine eyes are murderers.
Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee.
Scratch thee but with a pin, and there remains
Some scar of it. Lean upon a rush,
The cicatrice and capable impressure
Thy palm some moment keeps. But now mine eyes,
Which I have darted at thee, hurt thee not;
Nor I am sure there is no force in eyes
That can do hurt.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

*"I wouldn’t want to be your executioner. I avoid you so that I won’t hurt you. You claim that my eyes are like murderers. That’s a charming idea—very believable, of course—that eyes, which are the weakest and softest things, so cowardly they close even at the smallest speck of dust, could be tyrants, butchers, and murderers.

Here, I’m frowning at you with all my might—if my eyes can wound you, go ahead, let them kill you now. Pretend to faint; why not collapse to the ground? If you can’t, then shame on you for lying about my eyes being murderers.

Show me the wound that my eyes have supposedly given you. Even a scratch from a pin leaves a scar. If you press your hand on a soft reed, you’ll see a mark for a moment. But my eyes, which I’ve looked at you with, haven’t hurt you. I’m certain there’s no power in eyes to cause any harm."*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

• Executioner: Someone who carries out a death sentence.

• Fly thee: Avoid you.

• Atomies: Tiny particles, like dust.

• Coward gates: Eyelids, which close out of fear.

• Counterfeit: Pretend.

• Cicatrice: A scar.

• Capable impressure: Visible impression.

• Rush: A soft, flexible plant often used for weaving.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs

1. I would not be thy executioner.
   I fly thee, for I would not injure thee.

   • Phoebe begins by denying that she intends any harm to Silvius and explains why she avoids him.

2. Thou tell’st me there is murder in mine eye.
   'Tis pretty, sure, and very probable
   That eyes, that are the frail’st and softest things,
   Who shut their coward gates on atomies,
   Should be called tyrants, butchers, murderers.

   • She mocks Silvius’s claim that her gentle eyes could harm him, ridiculing the idea as absurd.

3. Now I do frown on thee with all my heart,
   And if mine eyes can wound, now let them kill thee.

   • Phoebe sarcastically invites Silvius to prove his claims by pretending her angry gaze is causing him physical harm.

4. Now counterfeit to swoon; why, now fall down;
   Or if thou canst not, O, for shame, for shame,
   Lie not, to say mine eyes are murderers.

   • She challenges Silvius to demonstrate the supposed effects of her "murderous" eyes, accusing him of lying.

5. Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee.
   Scratch thee but with a pin, and there remains
   Some scar of it. Lean upon a rush,
   The cicatrice and capable impressure
   Thy palm some moment keeps.

   • Phoebe argues that even minor injuries leave marks, contrasting this with Silvius’s claim of invisible wounds caused by her eyes.

6. But now mine eyes,
   Which I have darted at thee, hurt thee not;
   Nor I am sure there is no force in eyes
   That can do hurt.

   • She concludes that her eyes lack the power to harm him, dismissing his claims entirely.

Journey Keypoints: Hook, Turning Point, Climax, and Resolution

• Hook: Phoebe dismisses Silvius’s claim that she has wounded him.

• Turning Point: She ridicules the idea that eyes, being delicate, could inflict harm.

• Climax: Phoebe challenges Silvius to prove his claims and demonstrates the absurdity of his argument.

• Resolution: She declares that her eyes are harmless, rejecting his poetic assertions.

Conclusion

Phoebe’s monologue is a sharp and humorous rebuttal to Silvius’s over-the-top romanticism, showcasing her wit and independence. If you’re preparing this monologue for an audition, Acting Coach Scotland can help you capture Phoebe’s biting humour and charm. Contact us today to refine your performance and bring this character to life!