What is a dramatic monologue?
A type of poem in which a character speaks to an imagined listener or to themselves, revealing their thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
The Power of Perspective: Exploring the Dramatic Monologue
A dramatic monologue is a type of poem in which a character speaks to an imagined listener or to themselves, revealing their thoughts, emotions, and motivations. The speaker may describe a specific incident or communicate more abstract ideas. The form, first popularized by Robert Browning, allows writers to explore the perspectives of various characters and delve into the complexities of human experience.
What makes the dramatic monologue unique is its focus on point of view. Through the voice of the character, we are able to gain insights into their innermost feelings, desires, and, often, their flaws. The speaker may be unreliable, biased, or even deceptive, which can create tension and intrigue for the reader. A well-crafted dramatic monologue can transport us to a different time or place and offer a glimpse into the depths of the human psyche.
Get inspired by these examples of dramatic monologues in literature:
Browning's most famous poem, My Last Duchess, is a perfect example of the dramatic monologue form, as the Duke of Ferrara reveals his arrogance, jealousy, and control over his late wife to a listener who is never directly addressed.
"I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together. / There she stands / As if alive."
Eliot's modernist masterpiece, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, takes the form of a dramatic monologue in which the speaker, Prufrock, expresses his anxiety, self-doubt and fear of rejection as he obsesses over whether he should confess his love to someone he is interested in.
"Do I dare? / Disturb the universe? / In a minute there is time / For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse."