Soliloquies as a Dramatic Technique in Advancing the Plot In Shakespeare‘s Play Hamlet

Abstract

This research focused on one of the dramatic techniques playwrights used in their plays to give more effect and understanding; this literary technique is Soliloquy. Soliloquy in literature is a speech used in drama, uttered by a character or characters to reveal their inner thoughts and feelings to the readers or the audience. The researcher used descriptive analysis in this research adopting analytical approach in which play Hamlet was used analytically through analyzing the key Seven Soliloquies spoken by Hamlet. In doing so, a clear research problem and questions were presented such as the key seven Soliloquies spoken by Hamlet the protagonist, how these soliloquies have effect upon advancing the plot of the play. In order to give a clear understanding of the selected technique, the researcher precisely defined what the term Soliloquy means ,its importance in plays in general as it’s one of the dramatic techniques, how Soliloquies help readers and audience, how they advance the plot structure, and how Shakespeare even went further to enhance his plot structure. So as to link the research questions and the findings of the research, a detailed explanation on the seven key Soliloquies were presented, without which readers and audience cannot understand the characters’ thoughts and feelings. Finally, also a detailed explanation on how these Soliloquies play a key role in revealing the thoughts and feelings of characters and their trait.