Existentialism(ˌegziˈstenCHəˌlizəm)

Existentialism(ˌegziˈstenCHəˌlizəm)

EXISTENTIALISM

EXT: OUTSIDE A THEATER(ˈTHēətər)

Chris is walking out of Hamlet(ˈhamlit) with his friend Rob and has become increasing upset by the nature of the play.

CHRIS

‘To be or not to be?’ is not even remotely the question. I’m sorry, I know you’re supposed to like Shakespeare(shāk spēr) and all, but I think it’s a crock(kräk). If theater is all about self-absorbed(-ˈsôrbd,əbˈzôrbd) teenagers(ˈtēnˌājər) trying to decide whether or not being a prince(prins) is good enough to stay alive, then we have failed our children. Let me solve this dilemma(diˈlemə) for you, Hamlet, you little punk(pəNGk): To be. There. That is the answer.

Can you imagine(iˈmajən) if we all did that, all the time? I wake up every morning and wonder if coffee is going to be enough to get me out the door to a job I can’t stand. My internal(inˈtərnl) conflicts mostly cover “Should I take out a second mortgage(ˈmôrgij) or keep the junker(ˈjəNGkər) car I already have?” and “If my stupid kids keep whining((h)wīn) to me about getting a bigger TV, would it be immoral(-ˈmärəl,i(m)ˈmôrəl) to sell them into slavery(ˈslāvərē)?”

Sometimes it gets to the point where I think I’m just living this life because it’s already in place(plās). What do I care about TV screen sizes? I used to have dreams. I was going to be an astronaut(ˈastrəˌnôt). Now all I want is a little peace(pēs). Maybe a good night’s sleep. That’s the real question, isn’t it: to keep slogging(släg) forward to an unknown destination(ˌdestəˈnāSHən) or to just stay where you are and try to sleep it all away?

https://www.instantmonologues.com/preview/Existentialism