What is a soliloquy?
It is the act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character’s thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience. It is also defined as a section of a play or other drama in which a soliloquy is spoken. It is derived from the Latin word, soliloquium “a speaking alone”. Latin solus “alone” + loqui “speak”.
Here is a very touching soliloquy that I love so much; author, unknown! While the main character was written for a small boy, it is best interpreted by a young girl. I had the opportunity to coach two of my piano students, as part of their class participations. Both girls interpreted it so well that those who witnessed both performances couldn’t help crying from beginning to end.
Get ready with your hankies!!!
…. lights ….. camera…. action …!!!
Alms...., alms...., alms…. spare me a piece of bread…. spare me your mercy…. I am a child so young, so thin, and so ragged.
Why are you staring at me? With my eyes I cannot see, but I know that you are all staring at me! Why are you whispering to one another? Why? Do you know my mother? Do you know my father? Did you know me five years ago? Yes..., five years of bitterness had passed. I can still remember the vast happiness mother and I shared with father. My mother was playing on the piano, while I danced and danced for them. We were very happy indeed.
Suddenly, five loud knocks were heard on the door, and a deep silence ensued. Did the cruel Nippons discover our peaceful home? Asked Mother! Mother ran to my father’s side, pleading, “please Julian, hide there in the cellar, they cannot find you there”. I pulled my father’s arm, but he did not move. It seemed as though his feet were glued to the floor.
The door went “banggggg”, and before us five ugly beasts came barging in. “Are you Captain Julian Santos?,” roared the ugliest of them all. “Yes,” said my father. “You are under arrest,” said one of the beasts. They pulled father roughly away from us. Father wasn't given a chance to bid us goodbye. We followed them mile after mile, we were hungry and thirsty. We saw a group of Japanese soldiers eating. Oh, how our mouths watered seeing the delicious fruits they were eating. Then suddenly, we heard a voice calling, “..... Consueloooooo ….. Anitaaaaa ….. Consuelooooo ….. Anitaaaaa ….. Consueloooooo ….. Anitaaaaa …..!!!."
We ran towards the direction of the voice, but it was too late. We saw father hanging on a tree……… dead………. fatherrrrrrrr!!! Oh, it was terrible!!!. He had been badly beaten before he died….., and I cried vengeanceee...!!!, vengeanceee...!!!, vengeanceeee...!!! Everything went black. The next thing I knew I was nursing my poor invalid mother.
One day, we heard the church bell ringing, “dinggggg..., donggggg..., dinggggg..., donggggg!” It was a sign for us to find a shelter in our hideout, but I could not leave my invalid mother, I tried to show her the way to the hideout. Suddenly, bombs started falling; airplanes were roaring overhead..., canyons were firing from everywhere ..… booommm!!! booommm!!! booommmmmm!!! Mother was hit, her legs were shattered into pieces. I took her gently in my arms and cried, “I’ll have vengeanceee!!!, vengeanceee!!!” “No, Anita, vengeance….. it is God’s,” said mother. But I cried out vengeanceee!!!. I was like a pent up volcano. “Vengeance is mine not God’s”. “No, Anita, vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s”. These were the words from my mother before she died. Mother was dead and I was blind. Vengeance is not ours? To forgive is divine, but vengeance is sweeter!
That was five years ago, five years ….. aaalllmmmsss..., aaalllmmmsss..., aaalllmmmsss..., spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so young, so thin, so poor, and so ragged. Vengeance is not ours..., it is God’s... it’s God’s….. it’s….
