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We Shall Rest

A drama monologue from Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. About 1 min.

Everyone who might have changed their lives has driven away, and Sonia comforts her uncle as they go back to the accounts.

Sonia
early 20s. Runs the estate, loves a man who doesn’t love her

  1. Late at night. The guests have gone, and Uncle Vanya has just told her how miserable he is.

  2. What can we do? We must live our lives.

  3. Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya.

  4. We shall live through the long procession of days before us, and through the long evenings;

  5. we shall patiently bear the trials that fate imposes on us; we shall work for others without rest, both now and when we are old;

  6. and when our last hour comes we shall meet it humbly, and there, beyond the grave, we shall say that we have suffered and wept, that our life was bitter, and God will have pity on us.

  7. Ah, then dear, dear Uncle, we shall see that bright and beautiful life; we shall rejoice and look back upon our sorrow here; a tender smile—and—we shall rest.

  8. I have faith, Uncle, fervent, passionate faith.

  9. She kneels down before her uncle and lays her head on his hands.

  10. We shall rest.

  11. Telegin plays softly on the guitar.

  12. We shall rest. We shall hear the angels. We shall see heaven shining like a jewel.

  13. We shall see all evil and all our pain sink away in the great compassion that shall enfold the world.

  14. Our life will be as peaceful and tender and sweet as a caress. I have faith; I have faith.

  15. My poor, poor Uncle Vanya, you are crying!

  16. You have never known what happiness was, but wait, Uncle Vanya, wait! We shall rest.

  17. We shall rest.

  18. We shall rest.

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Public domain, Anton Chekhov, 1897. Text from Project Gutenberg #1756.

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