Soliloquy and Aside Definition

                       Soliloquy and Aside 

Soliloquy is a secret thought uttered aloud on the stage to acquaint the audience of what is passing in his mind. It is spoken when no other actor is present.This device was long an accepted dramatic convention, especially in the theatre of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

The main purpose of a soliloquy is to tell you how they are feeling. For example, in Shakespeare's King Lear, his soliloquy demonstrates to the audience he's going crazy.

The Aside is a passing thought uttered aloud by an actor infront of other characters on the stage, who are not supposed to hear it. It is the shortest form of soliloquy. It is as unnatural as the soliloquy. 

The soliloquy is used in farce and melodrama till  and end of 19th century. Later both Aside and soliloquy have vanished during the modern drama.

The soliloquy has a honoured place in literature. Some of the noblest passages in Shakespeare are cast in that form. Eg: Hamlet's" To be or not to be", Othello's " put out the light, and then put out the light' and Macbeth's " If it were done when tis done".