What are some examples of a soliloquy in "Romeo and Juliet"?


Quick Answer

Juliet's "What's in a name?" and Romeo's "What light through yonder window breaks?" are two examples of soliloquies in "Romeo and Juliet." A soliloquy is defined as a speech in which a character in a play expresses his or her thoughts directly to the audience.

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Full Answer

The play "Romeo and Juliet" was written by William Shakespeare and published in 1597. It is arguably one of his most famous plays and is full of figurative language and many soliloquies.

While Romeo and Juliet both speak soliloquies throughout the play, other characters such as Friar Lawrence, a prince and Mercutio have these parts as well. In fact, Mercutio has the famous soliloquy "I dreamt a dream" in Act I, Scene IV. This soliloquy speaks of the fine line between dreams and reality.

Romeo's soliloquy in Act II, Scene II is one of the most well-known in the entire play. It starts "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." This soliloquy speaks to the beauty of Juliet and his yet unrequited love for her. Romeo is watching Juliet at her window in the early morning while he is hidden from her view, and speaks to the audience of his love for her.

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