Literary Term - Dramatic Monologue

 

Literary Term

Dramatic Monologue 

A dramatic monologue is a type of poem or speech in which a single character, addressing a silent listener or audience, reveals their inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations. Unlike a soliloquy, which is spoken aloud by a character alone on stage, a dramatic monologue is typically delivered in the context of a specific situation or narrative, providing insight into the speaker's personality and perspective.

 

Examples from Literature

 

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess":

In this dramatic monologue, the Duke of Ferrara addresses a visitor to his home, revealing his feelings about his deceased wife and discussing her portrait. Through the Duke's words, the reader learns about his arrogance, possessiveness, and disregard for his wife's autonomy.

 

T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":

Prufrock's monologue in this modernist poem reflects his introspective thoughts and insecurities as he contemplates love, aging, and his own social inadequacies. The poem captures his inner turmoil and existential angst through fragmented reflections and rhetorical questions.

 

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Jenny":

The speaker in Rossetti's poem recounts a chance encounter with a woman named Jenny, revealing his conflicted emotions and moral dilemmas regarding their relationship. The monologue explores themes of desire, guilt, and societal expectations.

 

Function of Dramatic Monologue in Literature

 

Character Exploration:

Dramatic monologues allow writers to delve deeply into a character's psyche, motivations, and moral complexities through their own words. This provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the character's personality and worldview.

 

Voice and Perspective:

They offer a distinct narrative voice, allowing characters to express their thoughts, emotions, and perceptions directly to the audience or reader. This helps establish a connection between the speaker and the audience, immersing them in the speaker's internal world.

 

Revealing Subtext and Themes:

Through the speaker's revelations and reflections, dramatic monologues can reveal underlying themes, such as identity, power dynamics, societal norms, and existential dilemmas. They often invite readers to interpret and analyze the speaker's words beyond their literal meaning.

 

Creating Dramatic Tension:

Dramatic monologues can create tension and suspense by unfolding a narrative or revealing crucial information about the speaker's past experiences, relationships, or motivations. This engages readers in unraveling the speaker's story and understanding its implications.

 

Exploring Psychological Depth:

They provide a platform for exploring complex psychological states, emotional conflicts, and moral dilemmas faced by characters. This deepens the reader's empathy and understanding of human experiences portrayed in literature.

 

In conclusion, dramatic monologues are a powerful literary device that allows writers to explore characters' inner lives, convey thematic depth, and engage readers through intimate and introspective narratives. By presenting a character's thoughts and emotions in their own voice, dramatic monologues enrich literary works with authenticity, complexity, and emotional resonance.