What is a soliloquy? Definition and examples

What is a soliloquy?

A soliloquy is a speech or monologue directed at the speaker themselves which demonstrates their internal dialogue or inner thoughts.

Soliloquies in literature

Hamlet

Soliloquies are mostly found in plays as they allow the playwriter to show a character's internal dialogue without the need for a narrator. I'm sure it will be no surprise to hear that Shakespeare's works are full of them. Perhaps the most famous example of a soliloquy is Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech.

"To be, or not to be–that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep–

No more–and by a sleep to say we end

The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to. ‘Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep–

To sleep–perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause."

This soliloquy shows that Hamlet is contemplating whether or not to end his life and face the unknowns of death or to face the suffering that awaits him in his current existence. This is a powerful soliloquy because it shows Hamlet at one of his darkest moments and encourages the reader to contemplate how they would react in his situation.

House of Cards

While not strictly literature, this TV show is a great modern example of soliloquies done right. Across the series, the main character, Frank Underwood, directly addresses the camera as he explains his political tactics.

Underwood's soliloquies allow the audience to be drawn into his schemes and understand the character's rationale for how he acts.

What's the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue?

Both monologues and soliloquies are delivered by a single character. The key difference is the audience of the speech. In a soliloquy, the audience is the character themselves while in a monologue the audience is the other characters around them. In other words, if other people can respond to the character's speech, then it would be a monologue.

What's the difference between a soliloquy and internal dialogue?

Soliloquies are spoken out loud while internal dialogue is generally delivered internally inside a character's mind.

How to use soliloquy in fiction writing

Soliloquies are a rare occurrence in novels because writers can utilise internal dialogue or their narrator instead to delve into their characters' thoughts.

That doesn't mean you can't have a soliloquy in your novel though! If you do use a soliloquy, embracing poetic language and keeping your soliloquy on the shorter side will make it more engaging for your reader.

To have the most impact, a soliloquy should ideally be used in moments of moral conflict or to show the complex thoughts your character has, such as Hamlet's iconic "to be, or not to be" soliloquy.

Conclusion

A soliloquy is a speech spoken by a character that is directed at themselves, not other characters. They are mostly used in playwriting due to a soliloquy's capability to show a character's inner thoughts when a narrator is not present.

However, they can be used in fiction writing: a soliloquy is a unique way to tackle those thorny, serpentine issues your character might be experiencing.