Question

In Gretchen’s soliloquy from I Am American, why does the playwright use a soliloquy instead of having her talk to another character? Choose 2 options.

GRETCHEN SCHRIVER: I am American. In 1885 my family left the newly united Germany. It was the Industrial Revolution and machines were replacing people. My family was no longer needed. America was still wide open, though. They entered through Galveston, Texas, and eventually made their way up the Mississippi River to Milwaukee. They farmed. They took all that land, that prairie grass waving mile after mile, and started turning it into the infamous bread basket. They built churches and music halls, and, well, they really settled into America. (GRETCHEN exits left. MICHAEL LU enters left and comes center. SILHOUETTES begin pantomiming hammering spikes on railroad tracks.)

(2 points)
Responses

It lets Gretchen convince another character to change their mind.
It lets Gretchen convince another character to change their mind.

It lets Gretchen share her thoughts without worrying about being judged.
It lets Gretchen share her thoughts without worrying about being judged.

It lets Gretchen give lots of details about her life in America.
It lets Gretchen give lots of details about her life in America.
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Answer 1

- It lets Gretchen share her thoughts without worrying about being judged.
- It lets Gretchen give lots of details about her life in America.

Explanation: A soliloquy is used for private speech to the audience, not to persuade another character, so it permits revealing inner feelings and providing background/exposition directly.