A soliloquy is a type of monologue in which a character speaks their innermost thoughts and feelings aloud, often while alone or in isolation. It is a literary device often used in plays, particularly in tragedies, to reveal the character's inner turmoil and motivations.
In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," the character of Macbeth delivers several soliloquies throughout the play. These soliloquies reveal the character's inner turmoil and conflict as he struggles with the decision to murder King Duncan and take the throne.
One of the most famous soliloquies in "Macbeth" occurs in Act II, Scene 1, when Macbeth is struggling with his conscience over the murder he has just committed. He says:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
In this soliloquy, Macbeth is grappling with the weight of his actions and the realization that his life has become meaningless. He speaks of the futility of life and the fleeting nature of time, reflecting on how all of his past actions have led him to this point.
Another notable soliloquy in "Macbeth" occurs in Act III, Scene 1, when Macbeth is trying to justify his murder of Banquo to himself. He says:
I am in blood Stepp'd in so far, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er. Strange things I have in head, that will to hand; Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd.
In this soliloquy, Macbeth is acknowledging that he has gone too far and is now deeply entrenched in a cycle of violence and deceit. He speaks of his guilt and the nagging sense that he has done something wrong, but he also hints at a desire to continue down this dark path, as returning to a life of honesty and moral clarity would be too difficult.
Overall, the soliloquies in "Macbeth" serve to reveal the inner turmoil and conflict of the titular character as he grapples with the consequences of his actions. They provide insight into his motivations and help to paint a portrait of a man torn between his own desires and his sense of right and wrong.
