History & Words: ‘Soliloquy’ (June 20)
Welcome to ‘History & Words.’ I’m Prashant, founder of Wordpandit and the Learning Inc. Network. This series combines my passion for language learning with historical context. Each entry explores a word’s significance on a specific date, enhancing vocabulary while deepening understanding of history. Join me in this journey of words through time.
๐ Word of the Day: Soliloquy
Pronunciation: /sษหlษชlษkwi/ (suh-LIL-uh-kwee)
๐ Introduction
On June 20, 1782, the Great Seal of the United States was officially adopted by the Continental Congress, marking a pivotal moment in American symbolism and national identity. The seal features the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of Many, One”), which serves as a kind of national soliloquyโa profound expression of the foundational concept that unity can emerge from diversity.
The word “soliloquy,” representing a speech delivered by a character alone on stage or an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when alone, aptly reflects the nature of the Great Seal’s adoption. The seal was designed to communicate America’s values and aspirations to the world and to itself, much like a character in a play reveals inner thoughts through a soliloquy. Through this emblematic statement, the fledgling nation articulated its core philosophy of pluralism and union.
This adoption came at a crucial juncture in American history, as the Revolutionary War was nearing its conclusion and the young republic was beginning to define its identity independently from Great Britain. The Great Seal, with its symbolic imagery and textual elements, would become one of the most enduring expressions of American political philosophy, used to authenticate official documents and represent the sovereignty of the United States in international relations.
๐ฑ Etymology
The word “soliloquy” derives from the Late Latin “soliloquium,” a term coined by St. Augustine in the 4th century by combining “solus” (meaning “alone”) and “loqui” (meaning “to speak”). Originally used in Augustine’s “Soliloquies” to describe an internal dialogue between himself and “Reason,” the term evolved in English literature to denote a dramatic convention in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone or believing themselves to be alone, revealing their inner motivations and conflicts to the audience.
๐ Key Vocabulary
- ๐ Great Seal: An official emblem used to authenticate documents issued by the United States federal government
- ๐ E Pluribus Unum: Latin phrase meaning “Out of Many, One,” reflecting the formation of one nation from many states or peoples
- ๐ Continental Congress: The governing body of the American colonies and later the United States during and after the Revolutionary War
- ๐ Dramatic monologue: A literary device similar to but distinct from soliloquy, where a character addresses another character or the audience directly
๐๏ธ Historical Context
The concept of speaking one’s thoughts aloud for dramatic or literary effect has ancient roots. In Greek drama, characters often delivered rhesis (set speeches) that revealed their thoughts, though these were typically addressed to the chorus or other characters rather than delivered in isolation. The Roman philosopher Seneca’s tragedies featured extended speeches that influenced the development of later dramatic forms.
Shakespeare elevated the soliloquy to its highest form in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, using it as a powerful tool to reveal the psychological complexity of characters like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Richard III. These famous soliloquies allowed audiences unprecedented access to the inner workings of the characters’ minds, creating a sense of intimacy and psychological realism previously unseen in theater.
By the 18th century, when the Great Seal was adopted, the literary device had expanded beyond drama into novels and poetry. The Age of Enlightenment, with its emphasis on reason, self-examination, and individual consciousness, provided fertile ground for expressions that mirrored the soliloquy’s function of revealing inner thoughts and national aspirations.
In political discourse, nations have often employed rhetorical devices similar to soliloquies through symbols, mottos, and founding documents that articulate their self-conception and aspirations. The adoption of national emblems, like the Great Seal, represents moments when countries engage in a form of collective soliloquy, articulating their core values and identity.
โณ Timeline
- 4th century CE: St. Augustine coins the term “soliloquium” in his philosophical dialogues
- Late 16th century: Shakespeare develops the soliloquy as a dramatic device in plays like “Hamlet”
- July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence signed, creating the need for an official seal
- July 4, 1776: First committee appointed to design the Great Seal
- March 1780: Third Great Seal committee formed
- May 1782: William Barton and Charles Thomson create the final design
- June 20, 1782: Continental Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States
- September 15, 1789: The Great Seal is entrusted to the Secretary of State
๐ The Day’s Significance
June 20, 1782, culminated a six-year process to create an official symbol for the United States. After the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress recognized the need for an official seal to authenticate diplomatic and official documents. The task proved challenging, with two committees failing to produce designs that satisfied Congress.
The final design resulted from the collaborative efforts of William Barton, a heraldic expert, and Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson combined elements from previous committee submissions with his own ideas to create the emblematic “speech” that would represent America to the world. The resulting seal features an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows, symbolizing both peace and war powers, with “E Pluribus Unum” prominently displayed on a scroll.
The adoption of this national emblem represented a crucial step in establishing American sovereignty on the world stage. The Great Seal embodied America’s political philosophy in visual form, expressing the union of distinct states into a coherent whole and affirming the new nation’s independence and unity of purpose. Like a soliloquy in drama that reveals a character’s true nature, the Great Seal articulated America’s self-conception at a formative moment in its history.
The seal’s adoption also had practical implications for conducting international diplomacy. As America sought recognition from foreign powers and negotiated treaties, having an official emblem was essential for legitimizing documents. The Great Seal thus facilitated America’s entry into the community of nations as a sovereign entity, capable of speaking with its own voice in international affairs.
๐ฌ Quote
“The Seal of the United States was not lightly adopted nor its significance superficial. Its symbolism echoes the soliloquy of a nation revealing its character and aspirations to the world.” – Arthur Merton, “American Symbology: The Great Seal and National Identity” (1976)
๐ฎ Modern Usage and Reflection
Today, “soliloquy” remains primarily associated with dramatic literature and performance, though it has expanded metaphorically to describe any instance of articulating one’s inner thoughts or deeply held beliefs. In theater, while pure soliloquies have become less common in contemporary plays, variations and adaptations of the technique persist in film through voice-overs and in literature through interior monologues.
The Great Seal continues to function as America’s national soliloquy, appearing on official documents, American passports, and the one-dollar bill. The phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” though never adopted as the official motto of the United States (which is “In God We Trust” since 1956), remains one of the most recognized expressions of American political philosophy, particularly relevant in ongoing discussions about national unity, immigration, and cultural pluralism.
๐๏ธ Legacy
The legacy of the Great Seal’s adoption extends beyond its immediate practical functions. As a symbolic soliloquy of American ideals, it has influenced how Americans conceptualize their national identity and continues to serve as a touchstone in debates about American purpose and values.
The seal’s imagery and mottos have been reinterpreted by successive generations of Americans to address contemporary concerns. During periods of national division, from the Civil War to modern political polarization, “E Pluribus Unum” has been invoked as a reminder of the fundamental commitment to forging unity from diversity that has characterized the American experiment.
๐ Comparative Analysis
While 18th-century Americans understood the Great Seal primarily as a symbol of sovereignty and union among the original thirteen states, contemporary interpretations have expanded to encompass racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. The soliloquy of “E Pluribus Unum” has evolved from a statement about political federation to a broader philosophy of cultural pluralism, reflecting changing understandings of American identity. This evolution parallels how dramatic soliloquies have been reinterpreted over timeโfrom rhetorical devices in Elizabethan theater to psychological explorations in modern drama.
๐ก Did You Know?
๐ Conclusion
The adoption of the Great Seal on June 20, 1782, represents a moment when the United States articulated its foundational principles through a national soliloquy that continues to resonate today. Like characters in a play whose inner thoughts are revealed through their solitary speeches, nations define themselves through symbols and mottos that express their deepest aspirations. The ongoing relevance of both the literary device of soliloquy and the political expression “E Pluribus Unum” demonstrates how language and symbolism evolve while continuing to illuminate enduring human and national concerns.
๐ Further Reading
- ๐ “Symbolism in the Great Seal of the United States” by Richard S. Patterson and Richardson Dougall
- ๐ “The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States” by the U.S. Department of State
- ๐ “The Soliloquy in Drama: From Shakespeare to the Modern Era” by Marcus Thompson
