What is a monologue and what are the effects?

Answer 1

It may be useful to distinguish between a monologue and a soliloquy: a monologue is simply a long uninterrupted speech - some of Robert Browning's most famous poems are in the form of dramatic monologues; a solo performance or one-man play is by definition a monologue. A soliloquy is a form of theatrical monologue with specific functions. A prologue is a monoloque but not necessarily a soliloquy.

A soliloquy is a dramatic device where a single actor speaks his thoughts aloud. He is usually alone on stage at the time. Or at least alone in the sense that he steps out of the action or separates himself from it in some way to deliver the soliloquy. For example, in 'Hamlet' when Hamlet discovers Claudius praying, Hamlet's speech 'Now might I do it pat..." is a soliloquy - he is not involved in the action behind him on the stage and nor is Claudius aware of his presence. In soliloquy the actor may either speak directly to the audience as if they were active participants in a conversation, or ignore the audience completely as if they are eavesdropping on his private thoughts.

The function of a soliloquy is to inform the audience of a character's thoughts, feelings and motivations - especially if they are differ from surface appearances - For example, Iago in "Othello" or Richard III. It is an efficient way of conveying information that the character speaking may not wish the other characters in the play to know but which it is important the audience should understand. It helps move the action forward. It can be a useful way of introducing 'dramatic irony' - where the audience is privy to information of which other characters in the play remain unaware. Soliloquies are usually reserved for the main protagonists in a play.

By 'thinking aloud' the character is often able to resolve inner conflicts and determine new courses of action that will then alter his behaviour as the play continues. Dramatic stories primarily unfold on stage by a series of actions: characters move, gesture, handle props, interact physically with each other and so on. But sometimes the 'action' is simply that of thinking, choosing or reasoning when physical movement or interaction with other actors might be distracting. A soliloquy functions rather like a close-up in a movie with the audience required to focus just on the thought processes of the individual character. An actor still uses voice, expressiveness and gesture to deliver a soliloquy of course, and may sometimes use a prop - for example, the opening moments of The Revenger's Tragedy: "Enter Vindici with a skull."

A prologue - the opening introductory moments of a play - is often in the form of a monologue addressing the audience directly in order to set the scene and give some background - "Two households both alike in dignity in fair Verona, where we lay our scene." Sabina in 'The Skin of our Teeth'; Tom in 'The Glass Menagerie."

A soliloquy differs from an aside: in an 'aside' the actor briefly interrupts himself to address a comment to the audience, while still remaining engaged in the action of the scene. This is often used to comic effect. By theatrical convention the other actors onstage behave as if they do not hear the aside.