In Act 1, Scene 4 of William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 3, Queen Margaret delivers a scornful monologue to the captured Duke of York, mocking his ambitions and reveling in his downfall.

Title of Monologue:

Queen Margaret's Monologue from Act 1, Scene 4 of Henry VI, Part 3

Synopsis:

Queen Margaret, having captured the Duke of York, taunts him by highlighting his failed aspirations to the English throne. She derides his previous displays of power and questions the absence of his sons, who once supported his claims. Presenting a handkerchief stained with the blood of his slain son, Rutland, she mocks York's lack of visible grief and goads him to express his sorrow, all while preparing to crown him with a paper crown as a symbol of his thwarted ambition.

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

Prior to this monologue, Queen Margaret's forces have defeated the Duke of York's army. York is captured, and his youngest son, Rutland, has been killed by Lord Clifford. Margaret confronts the imprisoned York, intent on humiliating him before his execution.

Original Text:

QUEEN MARGARET

Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,

Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,

That raught at mountains with outstretched arms,

Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.

What! was it you that would be England's king?

Was't you that revell'd in our parliament,

And made a preachment of your high descent?

Where are your mess of sons to back you now?

The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?

And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy,

Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice

Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?

Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland?

Look, York: I stain'd this napkin with the blood

That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point,

Made issue from the bosom of the boy;

And if thine eyes can water for his death,

I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal.

Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly,

I should lament thy miserable state.

I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York.

What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails

That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death?

Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad;

And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus.

Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance.

Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport:

York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.

A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:

Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.

[Putting a paper crown on his head]

Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!

Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair,

And this is he was his adopted heir.

But how is it that great Plantagenet

Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath?

As I bethink me, you should not be king

Till our King Henry had shook hands with death.

And will you pale your head in Henry's glory,

And rob his temples of the diadem,

Now in his life, against your holy oath?

O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable!

Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;

And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

QUEEN MARGARET

Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,

Come, make him stand upon this small hill,

He who reached for mountains with outstretched arms,

Yet could only grasp at shadows.

What! Was it you who wanted to be England's king?

Was it you who celebrated in our parliament,

And boasted of your noble lineage?

Where are your group of sons to support you now?

The frivolous Edward, and the lusty George?

And where's that valiant hunchbacked prodigy,

Your boy Richard, who with his grumbling voice

Used to encourage his father in rebellions?

Or, among the rest, where is your darling Rutland?

Look, York: I stained this handkerchief with the blood

That valiant Clifford, with his sword's point,

Drew from the chest of the boy;

And if your eyes can weep for his death,

I give you this to dry your cheeks with.

Alas, poor York! but that I hate you deeply,

I should lament your miserable state.

I beg you, grieve, to make me merry, York.

What, has your fiery heart so dried your insides

That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death?

Why are you patient, man? You should be mad;

And I, to make you mad, mock you like this.

Stamp, rave, and fret, so that I may sing and dance.

You would be paid, I see, to entertain me:

York cannot speak, unless he wears a crown.

A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:

Hold his hands, while I set it on.

[Putting a paper crown on his head]

Yes, indeed, sir, now he looks like a king!

Yes, this is he that took King Henry's chair,

And this is he who was his adopted heir.

But how is it that great Plantagenet

Is crowned so soon, and broke his solemn oath?

As I recall, you should not be king

Until our King Henry had shaken hands with death.

And will you pale your head in Henry's glory,

And rob his temples of the crown,

Now in his life, against your holy oath?

Oh, it's a fault too unpardonable!

Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;

And, while we breathe, take time to kill him.*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

Molehill: A small mound of earth; used metaphorically to belittle York's current position.
Raught: Reached.
Preachment: A long or tedious speech.
Mess: A group or company.
Wanton: Playful or undisciplined.
Lusty: Energetic or passionate.
Crook-back: Hunchbacked; referring to Richard III.
Napkin: Handkerchief.
Prithee: I pray thee; please.
Fee'd: Paid.
Pale: To enclose or encircle.
Diadem: Crown.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

Mocking York's Ambition:
Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,
Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,
That raught at mountains with outstretched arms,
Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.
Margaret sarcastically instructs her allies to place York on a small mound, highlighting the disparity between his lofty ambitions and his current powerless state.
Deriding York's Claim to the Throne:
What! was it you that would be England's king?
Was't you that revell'd in our parliament,
And made a preachment of your high descent?
She ridicules York's previous assertions of his right to the English crown and his boasts of noble lineage.
Questioning the Absence of York's Sons:
Where are your mess of sons to back you now?
The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?
And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy,
Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice
Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?
Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland?
Margaret taunts York by questioning the absence of his sons—Edward, George, Richard (referred to derogatorily as "crook-back"), and Rutland—implying their failure to support him in his time of need.
Presenting Rutland's Blood-Stained Handkerchief:
Look, York: I stain'd this napkin with the blood
That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point,
Made issue from the bosom of the boy;
And if thine eyes can water for his death,
I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal.
She cruelly presents a handkerchief stained with Rutland's blood, offering it to York to dry his tears, thus mocking his grief.
Feigning Sympathy and Encouraging Grief:
Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly,
I should lament thy miserable state.
I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York.
Margaret feigns pity for York, admitting her hatred but expressing a desire to see him grieve for her amusement.
Mocking York's Lack of Tears:
What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails
That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death?
Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad;
And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus.
She questions why York isn't visibly mourning, suggesting his intense emotions have dried his capacity to weep, and admits her intent to provoke him.
Encouraging a Display of Rage:
Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance.
Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport:
Margaret urges York to express his rage so she can revel in his misery, implying he exists solely for her entertainment.
Mocking York's Ambition with a Paper Crown:
York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.
A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:
Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.
She sarcastically suggests that York needs a crown to speak, then mockingly crowns him with a paper crown, instructing others to bow.
Irony of York's Premature Coronation:
Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!
Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair,
And this is he was his adopted heir.
But how is it that great Plantagenet
Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath?
Margaret mocks the irony of York's premature coronation, referencing his oath to wait until King Henry's death.
Accusing York of Usurpation:
As I bethink me, you should not be king
Till our King Henry had shook hands with death.
And will you pale your head in Henry's glory,
And rob his temples of the diadem,
Now in his life, against your holy oath?
She accuses York of breaking his oath by attempting to take the crown during Henry's lifetime, thus usurping his authority.
Condemning York's Actions:
O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable!
Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;
And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.
Margaret declares York's actions unforgivable, calling for his execution and the removal of both his crown and head.

Journey Keypoints:

Hook: Margaret begins by mocking York's ambitions and current powerless state.
Turning Point: She presents the blood-stained handkerchief, intensifying her taunts by confronting him with his son's death.
Climax: Margaret crowns York with a paper crown, symbolizing the mockery of his failed quest for power.
Resolution: She condemns York's actions as unpardonable and calls for his immediate execution.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

Judi Dench: Portrayed Queen Margaret in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1977 production, delivering a performance noted for its intensity and depth.
Helen Mirren: Assumed the role in the BBC Television Shakespeare series in 1983, offering a compelling interpretation of Margaret's complex character.
Sophie Okonedo: Played Queen Margaret in the 2016 BBC series The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, bringing a powerful presence to the role.