Methodology of Writing a Soliloquy
Developing a soliloquy
1. Think about the context: you need to understand where the soliloquy is in relation to the whole
play/novel and the character’s journey through it. Reading and knowing the entire play/novel is
crucial. In particular, think about what has happened immediately before the speech. Usually, a
soliloquy is triggered by a key event; give your character time to make sense of their situation. Your
first job is to demonstrate the character’s feelings at the beginning of the speech.
2. Analyze the structure of the text. A soliloquy is a mini-play in itself. It has a beginning, middle, and
end. Divide the text up into beats or subsections, each with a separate function. For example: “beat
one: initial anger.” Once you have divided the speech up, you can begin to think about how to play
each section in terms of physicality and voice.
3. Think about where your character is. This is crucial to the way in which they behave in the scene.
Depending on their situation, move as naturally as you can as if you were there. Your movement
and speech will vary greatly depending on if you are outside in a storm or in your enemy’s private
home.
4. Sequence the information. Having established the basics (context, structure, and situation), begin
to sequence the information together and develop the work. Your audience should not be able to
see the gaps between your sections. They need to be filled with gestures that demonstrate your
character’s thought process.
5. Emotional engagement is essential. Having worked on a good basic structure with natural
movement and vocal quality, you must now engage with the character’s emotions. Without it, your
work will feel false and contrived. Try to translate your own feelings from personal experiences into
the role, either by thinking about your past emotions or simply by acting out how you would
behave in particular emotional states.
Performance Tips
Don’t move unless you have to! Sometimes actors feel like they must move just because
they are static. Many soliloquies require little movement and some speeches require no
movement at all. Move only when the character should.
Always make sure you know how to say unfamiliar words. Mispronunciation is
embarrassing! YouTube, audio, and videotapes are always useful in this respect. Rehearse
well before the performance.
Finally, be yourself! Remember, a soliloquy is a personal reaction to events, so you need to
engage with real feelings and thoughts. These can only come from you.
www.thoughtco.com
