soliloqu

A soliloquy is a dramatic device in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, typically alone on stage. This convention allows the audience to gain insight into the character's inner turmoil, motivations, plans, or feelings, which might otherwise remain hidden. The term "soliloquy" is derived from the Latin words "solus" meaning "alone" and "loqui" meaning "to speak."

Historically, soliloquies have been employed across various forms of theatre, most notably in Elizabethan drama, where playwrights like William Shakespeare frequently used them to develop complex characters and advance plotlines. Famous examples include Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech, which explores existential dread, and Macbeth's contemplation of his ambition and guilt.

Unlike an aside, which is a brief comment directed to the audience and unheard by other characters, a soliloquy is generally a longer speech that represents the character's stream of consciousness. It is a theatrical convention that breaks the fourth wall indirectly, as the character is speaking their private thoughts, but the audience is privy to them. This technique is a powerful tool for character exposition and thematic exploration in dramatic works.