Importance of Soliloquies in Shakespeare’s MacbethImportance of Soliloquies in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Soliloquy is a literary device used in drama when a character wants to speak to him or herself. The main purpose of soliloquies is to express the feelings, inner thoughts, personality and mind set of the characters. William Shakespeare, the popular Elizabethan dramatist shows his excellence in using soliloquies in dramas. One of his major tragedies Macbeth is the best example for using effective soliloquies. Shakespeare uses the literary device soliloquy as a tool to exhibit the hero and heroine’s mental state to the audience. There is also a little confusion between a soliloquy and a monologue among the readers. Soliloquy is different from a monologue. A monologue is a speech given by a character in the presence of other characters, whereas, the soliloquy is a speech made by a character in the absence of other characters.

Soliloquies are the heart and soul of Macbeth. The soliloquies of Macbeth are more like interior debates, a fascinating aspect of Macbeth’s motivation. In the very first soliloquy of Macbeth we find him contemplating over the murder of King Duncan and its possible consequences:

“When it is done, then ‘twere well

It were done quickly: If th’ assassination

Could trammel up the consequenees, and catch

With his surcease success……..”

(Act- I, Scene-VII)

The human psyche is always like a butterfly. It will create more impact on others. In the same way, Lady Macbeth’s poisonous words after reading the letter from Macbeth make a great impact on the play.

“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be

What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;

Art not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it,….” ( Act-I, Scene-V)

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