Understanding the Function of Soliloquy in Hamlet

Easy Drama Analysis Use Of Soliloquy And Aside

In many plays, soliloquies serve as a means for characters to express their innermost thoughts and feelings, allowing the audience to understand their motivations and conflicts. A soliloquy occurs when a character speaks to themselves, often revealing their feelings to the audience, while aside usually refers to a brief remark that a character makes to the audience while other characters on stage are not supposed to hear. Consider the following excerpt from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet':

"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."

Based on your understanding of soliloquy and aside, which function does the soliloquy quoted above primarily serve in the context of the play?

To advance the plot by revealing immediate actions.

To express internal conflict and existential contemplation.

To provide comic relief amidst tension.

To inform other characters about hidden truths.

To distract the audience from the main action.

Hint

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