Soliloquy

For other uses, see Soliloquy (disambiguation).

This article is about speeches to oneself. For the psychological phenomenon, see self-talk.

A soliloquy (/səˈlɪl.ə.kwi, soʊˈlɪl.oʊ-/, from Latin solo "to oneself" + loquor "I talk",^[1][a] plural soliloquies) is a monologue addressed to oneself, thoughts spoken out loud without addressing another person.^[2][3]

Soliloquies are used as a device in drama. In a soliloquy, a character typically is alone on a stage and makes their thoughts, feelings, and intentions known to the audience, addressing it directly or take it into their confidence, wholly or in part. English Renaissance drama used soliloquies to great effect, such as in the soliloquy "To be, or not to be", the centerpiece of Shakespeare's Hamlet.^[4][5]

Footnotes

1. Some related words are obloquy, from Latin ob-, against; it means "public speaking against" or "public condemnation" and the legal term Res ipsa loquitur, the thing speaks for itself

See also

• Aside
• Backstory
• Exposition (narrative)
• Internal monologue
• List of narrative techniques
• Narration