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Situational Irony
Definition of Soliloquy
A soliloquy is a literary device, most often found in dramas, in which a character speaks to him or herself, relating his or her innermost thoughts and feelings as if... read full definition
A soliloquy is a literary device, most often found in dramas, in which a character speaks to him or herself, relating his or her innermost... read full definition
A soliloquy is a literary device, most often found in dramas, in which a character speaks to him or herself... read full definition
Scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—"Lawd, I Done Wrong!":
For the majority of The Emperor Jones, Brutus Jones is the only character who speaks. Jones converses with himself, with an absent God, and with his very own memories—and he does all of this regardless of the fact that he never receives an answer and regardless of the audience watching the play unfold. Thus, Scenes 2 through 7 may be understood as a series of connected soliloquies delivered by a man slowly coming to terms with his unfortunate fate. Take the following example from Scene 5:
Lawd Jesus, heah my prayer! I’se a po’ sinner, a po’ sinner! I knows I done wrong, I knows it! When I cotches Jeff cheatin’ wid loaded dice my anger overcomes me and I kills him dead! Lawd, I done wrong! When dat guard hits me wid de whip, my anger overcomes me, and I kills him dead… Lawd, I done wrong! I knows it! I’se sorry! Forgive me, Lawd! Forgive dis po’ sinner!
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