Have you ever been watching a play or reading a story and felt like a character let you in on a secret? Like they briefly spoke their thoughts directly to you, the audience, without the other characters hearing? That’s often an aside at work! It’s a fascinating literary device that adds layers of meaning and humor to narratives. Let’s dive in and explore exactly what an aside is, how it functions, and how writers skillfully employ it.
What is an Aside? A Simple Definition
An aside is a brief remark a character makes that is intended for the audience to hear but not for other characters on stage (in a play) or within the story’s world (in literature). Think of it as a character briefly stepping outside of the action to share their true feelings, opinions, or plans directly with you. It’s a way for the writer to reveal information the character wouldn’t normally share aloud.
Quick Examples of Asides
- “Oh, if only she knew what I really think of her new hat!”
- “I’m sure this plan will fail spectacularly, but what choice do I have?”
- “He seems nice, but I suspect he’s hiding something.”
These short statements, delivered as asides, immediately create a connection between the character and the audience, offering insight that isn’t available to the other characters.
The Function of Asides in Storytelling
Asides aren’t just quirky little comments. They serve important roles within a narrative. Here are a few key functions:
- Revealing Inner Thoughts: Asides allow the audience access to a character’s true feelings, motivations, and secrets. This creates dramatic irony, where the audience knows something the characters don’t.
- Adding Humor: A well‑placed aside can inject humor into a scene, often through witty observations or sarcastic remarks.
- Creating Dramatic Irony: As mentioned, dramatic irony is a common outcome. We, the audience, might be aware of a character’s deception or a looming danger that others are oblivious to.
- Building Character: Asides reveal a character’s personality, biases, and thought processes, enriching our understanding of them.
- Providing Commentary: Asides can act as a form of direct commentary on the action, offering the character’s perspective on events.
Exploring Asides in Literature and Drama: Detailed Examples
Let’s examine how asides work in practice with more extended examples. We’ll cover both dramatic and literary instances.
Dramatic Asides (Plays)
Shakespeare is a master of the aside. Here’s an example from Hamlet:
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d
His canon ‘gainst self‑slaughter!”
Hamlet speaks this aside at the beginning of the play, expressing his profound grief and suicidal thoughts. The other characters on stage are unaware of these feelings. This aside immediately establishes Hamlet’s melancholic state and foreshadows the internal conflict he will face throughout the play. It’s not a response to another character; it’s a direct expression of his inner turmoil to us.
Another example, from Molière’s Tartuffe:
Tartuffe: “I must contain myself, but it is hard.”
(Aside to the audience) “A holy mask conceals a burning fire. I must proceed cautiously; Orgon’s trust is easily lost.”
This aside reveals Tartuffe’s true, hypocritical nature. While he presents a pious facade to Orgon, he admits to the audience his lustful intentions. This creates dramatic irony and highlights the comedic deception at the heart of the play.
Literary Asides (Novels & Short Stories)
While less common in modern novels than in plays, authors still use techniques resembling asides. They might employ first‑person narration with internal monologue or use a limited third‑person perspective to grant access to a character’s private thoughts.
Consider this example:
“Old Man Hemlock shuffled into the diner, his face a roadmap of wrinkles. He ordered the usual, black coffee and a slice of apple pie. Honestly, I thought, the man looks like he hasn’t smiled in fifty years. What’s his story? I decided to strike up a conversation, hoping to glean some insight into his melancholy.”
The italicized phrase functions as a literary aside. It represents the narrator’s unvoiced thoughts, a commentary on the scene that isn’t shared with the other characters. It doesn’t interrupt the narrative flow but adds a layer of subjective observation.
Here’s another example:
“She told him she loved the gift, a gaudy ceramic cat. I watched her face carefully. A convincing performance, I thought, but I knew she secretly loathed it. She had mentioned how awful those things were only yesterday. She really needed the money.”
Again, the italicized portion is the narrator’s aside, revealing a hidden truth that the character receiving the gift is unaware of. It creates tension and a sense of distrust.
Distinguishing Asides from Other Literary Devices
It’s important to differentiate asides from similar devices:
- Soliloquy: A soliloquy is a lengthy speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their thoughts. Asides are typically much shorter and can occur even when other characters are present.
- Internal Monologue: While asides can be expressed through internal monologue, not all internal monologues are asides. An aside is specifically directed toward the audience, while an internal monologue can be a more general stream of consciousness.
- Dramatic Irony: Asides often create dramatic irony, but they aren’t the same thing. Dramatic irony is the situation itself, the audience knowing something the characters don’t.
Crafting Effective Asides in Your Own Writing
If you’re a writer, consider these tips when using asides:
- Keep them concise: Asides should be brief and impactful, not lengthy digressions.
- Establish clarity: Make it clear to the reader that the aside is meant to be heard only by them. Italics, em dashes, or specific phrasing can help.
- Serve a purpose: Don’t use asides arbitrarily. They should reveal something important about the character, plot, or theme.
- Vary placement: Experiment with placing asides in different parts of a scene to create different effects.
Asides are a powerful literary device that can add depth, humor, and dramatic tension to your writing. By understanding how they function and how to use them effectively, you can create a more engaging and rewarding experience for your readers.