Monologues for Women

The Belle of Amherst

The Belle of Amherst
By William Luce (1978)

PURCHASE THIS PLAY: https://goo.gl/HAC2Ui

Character: EMILY - Emily is the historical character Emily Dickinson, a well-known nineteenth-century poet. In this scene she is fifty-three. She had auburn hair parted in the middle and drawn back to the nape of her neck. She is wearing a simple, white, full-length dress. She is a recluse who possesses tremendous inner strength.

Situation: This one-character play takes place in the Dickinson household in Amherst, Massachusetts. This monologue, set in 1883, opens the play. Emily has invited the audience to tea.

EMILY: (She enters, carrying the teapot. She calls back over her shoulder.) Yes, Vinnie, I have the tea, dear!

(She places the tea on the tea cart, then looks up wide-eyed at the AUDIENCE. Slowly she picks up a plate with slices of dark cake on it, walks shyly downstage, and extends it to the audience.)

This is my introduction. Black cake. My own special recipe.

Forgive me if I'm frightened. I never see strangers and hardly know what I say. My sister, Lavinia-- she's younger than I-- she says I tend to wander back and forth in time. So you must bear with me. I was born December tenth, eighteen thirty, which makes me-- fifty-three!

Welcome to Amherst. My name is Emily Elizabeth Dickinson. Elizabeth is for my Aunt Elisabeth Currier. She's father's sister. Oh, how the trees stand up straight when they hear Aunt Libbie's little boots come thumping into Amherst! She's the only male relative on the female side.

Dear Aunt Libbie.

But I don't use my middle name anymore-- since I became a poet.

Professor Higginson, the literary critic, doesn't think my poems are-- no matter. I've had seven poems published-- anonymously, to be sure. So to see why I prefer to introduce myself to you as a poet.

Here in Amherst, I'm known as Squire Edward Dickinson's half-cracked daughter. Well, I am! The neighbors can't figure me out. I don't cross my father's ground to any house or town. I haven't left the house for years.

The Soul selects her own Society--

Then-- shuts the Door.

(EMILY turns to the window, still holding the cake.)

Why should I socialize with the village gossips? There goes one of them now-- Henrietta Sweetser-- everyone knows Henny. She'd even intimidate the anti-Christ. Look at her! She's strolling by the house, trying to catch a glimpse of me. Would you like that?

So I give them something to talk about. I dress in white all year round, even in winter. "Bridal white," Henny calls it.

(She mimics back-fence gossips.)

"Dear, dear! Dresses in bridal white, she does, every day of the blessed year. Year in, year out. Disappointed in love as a girl, so I hear. Poor creature. All so very sad. And her sister Lavinia, a spinster, too. DIdn't you know? Oh, yes. Stayed unmarried just to be at home and take care of Miss Emily. Two old maids in that big house. What a lonely life, to shut yourself away from good people like us."

Indeed!

You should see them come to the door, bearing gifts, craning their necks, trying to see over Vinnie's shoulder. But I'm too fast for them. I've already run upstairs two steps at a time. And I hide there until they leave. You can imagine what they make of that!

One old lady came to the door the other day to get a peek inside. I surprised her by answering the door myself. She stammered something about looking for a house to buy.

(Mischievously)

To spare the expense of moving, I directed her to the cemetery.