Why would a playwright use a soliloquy instead of a monologue?

Question

to inform the audience about how one character feels about another

to give the audience historical context about the setting of the play

to develop an idea the playwright wants the audience to know about

to reveal the character’s true motivation and most honest feelings

Answer 1

A playwright would use a soliloquy instead of a monologue primarily to reveal the character’s true motivation and most honest feelings.

While both soliloquies and monologues involve a single character speaking at length, a soliloquy is typically delivered when the character is alone on stage or believes they are alone, allowing for a more intimate and genuine expression of their thoughts and emotions. This contrasts with a monologue, which can be addressed to other characters or the audience and may not necessarily reveal the character's inner thoughts in the same way.