Soliloquy facts for kids

A soliloquy is a special kind of speech in a play. It's when a character talks to themselves, usually when they are alone on stage. Other characters in the play do not hear what is said. This allows the character to share their secret thoughts or deep feelings directly with the audience. It's like they are thinking out loud just for you to hear!

What is a Soliloquy?

A soliloquy is a moment in a play when a character speaks their thoughts aloud. They are often alone on stage, or if other characters are present, they are not supposed to hear what is being said. This is different from a regular conversation between characters. The main purpose of a soliloquy is to let the audience know what the character is truly thinking or feeling inside. It helps you understand their motivations and inner struggles.

Why Do Characters Use Soliloquies?

Characters use soliloquies for several important reasons:

• To reveal their true feelings: They can share emotions like fear, love, anger, or sadness that they might hide from other characters.
• To explain their plans: The audience learns about a character's secret intentions or decisions.
• To explore big ideas: Characters might think aloud about life, death, justice, or other complex topics.
• To create suspense: Sometimes, a soliloquy can hint at future events or dangers.

It's a powerful way for playwrights to connect the audience directly with a character's inner world.

Famous Soliloquies in Theatre History

Many famous plays feature memorable soliloquies. Shakespeare, a very famous playwright, used them often. His plays are full of characters who speak their minds directly to the audience.

Here are some well-known examples:

• Hamlet's "To be or not to be": This is perhaps the most famous soliloquy of all time. In Hamlet, the character Hamlet thinks deeply about life, death, and whether it's better to live with pain or end it all. It's a moment where he questions everything.
• Macbeth's "Is this a dagger": In Macbeth, Macbeth sees a vision of a dagger before he commits a terrible act. This soliloquy shows his guilt and his mind starting to break.
• Macbeth's "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow": Later in Macbeth, this soliloquy shows Macbeth's despair and his view that life is meaningless after tragic events.
• Bottom's Dream in A Midsummer Night's Dream: In A Midsummer Night's Dream, the character Bottom wakes up from a magical dream. His soliloquy describes his confusion and wonder about what he just experienced.

How Soliloquies Changed Over Time

Soliloquies were very popular in plays for a long time, especially during Shakespeare's era. However, plays started to change in the 18th century. They began to focus more on realism. Realism in theatre means trying to show life as it truly is, without magic or characters talking to themselves out loud when others are around.

Because of this shift towards realism, soliloquies became less common. Playwrights started to find other ways for characters to express their inner thoughts, such as through private conversations or by showing their feelings through actions and expressions. Even so, soliloquies remain a classic and powerful tool in theatre, especially in older plays.