Literary Term - Aside

 

Literary Term

Aside 

The literary term "aside" refers to a dramatic technique used in plays, particularly in the context of theater. An aside occurs when a character briefly speaks their thoughts or feelings directly to the audience or to themselves, breaking the fourth wall. Importantly, the other characters on the stage are not meant to hear this dialogue, making it a private moment or a revelation intended only for the audience's understanding.

Asides provide insights into a character's inner thoughts, motives, or emotions, which might not be explicitly expressed in the regular dialogue. They offer a way for the playwright to provide the audience with additional information, humor, or dramatic irony, as the audience becomes privy to information that other characters are unaware of.

Asides are commonly used in various forms of drama, including Shakespearean plays. For example, in William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo delivers an aside while watching Juliet on her balcony, revealing his feelings of love and admiration.

Asides can be a powerful tool for character development and creating a deeper connection between the audience and the characters on stage.

Difference Between Aside and Soliloquy

Aside and soliloquy are both dramatic techniques used in plays, but they have distinct differences in terms of their purpose, delivery, and the characters involved.

Purpose:

Aside: As mentioned earlier, an aside is when a character briefly speaks their thoughts or feelings directly to the audience or themselves, breaking the fourth wall. The primary purpose of an aside is to provide the audience with insights into a character's inner thoughts or motives. It is like a brief, private moment of communication between the character and the audience, while the other characters on stage remain unaware of this dialogue.

Soliloquy: A soliloquy is a longer speech delivered by a character while they are alone on stage. Unlike an aside, a soliloquy is not directed at the audience. Instead, the character is speaking their thoughts out loud to themselves, contemplating a problem, revealing their inner turmoil, or expressing their emotions. Soliloquies often offer significant character development and allow the audience to understand the character's psyche and motivations on a deeper level.

 

Delivery:

Aside: Asides are typically short, often consisting of just a few lines, and are delivered in a hushed or confidential tone. The character might physically step to the side of the stage or use a lower voice to indicate that the aside is not meant for the other characters to hear.

Soliloquy: Soliloquies are longer and more in-depth monologues. Since the character is alone on stage, there is no need for secrecy, and they speak at a normal volume, openly expressing their thoughts and feelings to themselves.

 

Characters Involved:

Aside: In an aside, there is at least one other character present on the stage, and the aside is not heard by those characters. It's a means of communication between the character and the audience.

Soliloquy: During a soliloquy, the character is entirely alone on stage, which allows for complete freedom of expression. No other characters are present to hear the thoughts being shared.

 

Both aside and soliloquy are valuable tools in drama, providing opportunities for character development, dramatic tension, and engaging the audience in a unique way. They have been used by playwrights throughout history to enhance the storytelling experience and create a deeper connection between the characters and the audience.

Examples of Aside in Literature

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare:

In Act 1, Scene 2, Hamlet delivers an aside after his first encounter with his father's ghost. He says:

"O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else?

And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, my heart;

And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,

But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee!

Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat

In this distracted globe. Remember thee!

Yea, from the table of my memory

I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past

That youth and observation copied there,

And thy commandment all alone shall live

Within the book and volume of my brain,

Unmix'd with baser matter. Yes, by heaven!"

Here, Hamlet is expressing his intense emotions and thoughts about his father's ghost to the audience, revealing his grief, confusion, and determination to seek revenge. The other characters on stage are not aware of this aside.

 

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare:

In Act 2, Scene 2, also known as the balcony scene, Romeo delivers an aside while observing Juliet on her balcony. He says:

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."

In this famous aside, Romeo shares his poetic admiration for Juliet's beauty and compares her to the sun. This allows the audience to understand his feelings for her while Juliet remains unaware of his presence.

 

"Macbeth" by William Shakespeare:

In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth delivers an aside after reading her husband's letter about the witches' prophecies. She says:

"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be

What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o' the milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way."

Here, Lady Macbeth reveals her initial thoughts on her husband's ambitious nature and her concern that he might not have the ruthlessness to seize the throne.

 

These examples illustrate how asides provide the audience with direct access to a character's inner thoughts, emotions, and intentions, enhancing the audience's understanding of the play's characters and plot.

Function of Aside

The function of an aside in literature and drama serves several important purposes:

Revealing Inner Thoughts: Asides allow characters to share their innermost thoughts, emotions, and intentions directly with the audience. This helps the audience gain deeper insights into a character's motivations and feelings, even if they are different from what the character might portray to other characters within the story.

Dramatic Irony: Asides often create dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that other characters on stage do not. This adds tension and suspense to the plot, as the audience anticipates the consequences of characters' private thoughts and decisions.

Character Development: Asides contribute to the development of characters by providing additional layers to their personalities. The audience gains a more comprehensive understanding of the character's struggles, desires, and conflicts, allowing for a richer and more nuanced portrayal.

Comic Relief: Asides can also be used for comedic effect. Characters might share humorous observations or reactions with the audience, lightening the mood and offering relief from intense or serious scenes.

Engaging the Audience: Asides engage the audience directly, breaking the fourth wall and making them active participants in the story. This creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the characters and the audience.

Plot Advancement: Asides can sometimes be used to advance the plot or provide important information that would be difficult to convey through regular dialogue. By sharing vital details with the audience, characters can help move the story forward smoothly.

Maintaining Pace and Rhythm: Asides can be used to control the pacing of a play or literary work. They provide brief pauses in the main action, allowing the audience to digest information or adding variety to the overall rhythm of the performance.

Overall, asides are a powerful narrative device that adds depth, emotion, and engagement to literature and drama. By allowing characters to communicate directly with the audience, they create a unique and immersive experience that enriches the storytelling.