Aside

Definition

An aside is a dramatic device where a character speaks directly to the audience, revealing thoughts or intentions that other characters cannot hear. This technique provides insight into a character's motives and creates a connection between the audience and the performer, enhancing the overall storytelling experience. Asides are often used to build dramatic tension and develop themes by exposing inner conflicts or secret plans.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Asides are typically brief, allowing characters to express thoughts without disrupting the flow of dialogue among other characters.
2. Shakespeare frequently employed asides in his plays to give audiences a deeper understanding of character motivations, especially in works like 'Hamlet' and 'Othello.'
3. The use of asides can create dramatic irony, as the audience is privy to information that other characters are unaware of.
4. Asides can also serve to heighten comedic effect by allowing characters to express humorous observations about others.
5. In Elizabethan theatre, the physical layout of the stage allowed for effective delivery of asides, as actors could position themselves to directly address the audience.

Review Questions

• How do asides enhance character development in Shakespeare's plays?
  • Asides are a key tool for character development in Shakespeare's plays because they allow characters to share their innermost thoughts with the audience. This insight can reveal motivations that may not be apparent through dialogue with other characters. By exposing these hidden feelings or intentions, asides create a more complex and relatable character, enabling the audience to understand their dilemmas and choices better.
• Discuss how the use of asides contributes to dramatic irony within a scene.
  • Asides contribute to dramatic irony by providing the audience with knowledge that other characters lack. When a character shares their true feelings or plans through an aside, it creates tension because the audience knows more than the characters involved. This technique keeps viewers engaged and heightens suspense, as they anticipate how events will unfold based on this hidden information.
• Evaluate the role of asides in shaping thematic elements within Shakespearean drama.
  • Asides play a crucial role in shaping themes in Shakespearean drama by allowing characters to articulate their internal struggles and moral dilemmas directly to the audience. This direct communication can highlight themes such as betrayal, ambition, or love by providing a window into a character's psyche. Asides can also challenge societal norms by giving voice to characters' true feelings, prompting audiences to reflect on complex issues like loyalty and integrity within both personal and political contexts.

Related terms

Soliloquy: A soliloquy is a speech delivered by a character alone on stage, expressing their inner thoughts and feelings, often revealing deeper emotional truths.

Monologue: A monologue is an extended speech by one character to other characters, which can convey their thoughts, emotions, or backstory within the context of the scene.

Fourth Wall: The fourth wall refers to the imaginary barrier between the actors on stage and the audience; breaking this wall occurs when characters acknowledge the audience directly.