Subverse Aphrodesia

Academic Regrets

Saw the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's uplifting opening night production of Bernard Shaw's Getting Married at the Alvina Krause Theatre and left very disappointed with myself for not having read more Shaw.
Mrs. George's "clarivoyant" monologue left me teary-eyed and stunned. It helped that Elizabeth Dowd is one of the most present and effective actresses I've been blessed to see on stage, but the verses one their own amaze me.

When you loved me
I gave you the whole sun and stars to play with.
I gave you eternity in a single moment,
strength of the mountains in one clasp of your arms, and the volume of all the seas in one impulse of your souls.
A moment only; but was it not enough?
Were you not paid then for all the rest of your struggle on earth?
Must I mend your clothes and sweep your floors as well?
Was it not enough?
I paid the price without bargaining:
I bore the children without flinching:
was that a reason for heaping fresh burdens on me?
I carried the child in my arms: must I carry the father too?
When I opened the gates of paradise, were you blind?
was it nothing to you?
When all the stars sang in your ears
and all the winds swept you into the heart of heaven,
were you deaf?
were you dull?
was I no more to you than a bone to a dog?
Was it not enough?
We spent eternity together; and you ask me for a little lifetime more.
We possessed all the universe together; and you ask me to give you my scanty wages as well.
I have given you the greatest of all things; and you ask me to give you little things.
I gave you your own soul: you ask me for my body as a plaything.
Was it not enough?
Was it not enough?