Aside

An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks directly to the audience or makes a remark that is not heard by the other characters on stage. Asides are typically short and inserted within dialogue, rather than delivered as a full-length speech. They are distinct from soliloquies, which are longer speeches expressing a character’s private thoughts while alone on stage.

Historically, asides have been common in classical and early modern drama, especially in Shakespearean works. They allow a character to reveal motives, judgments, or humorous observations without explicitly stating them to other characters. Asides can create dramatic irony, since the audience knows something the onstage characters do not.

Performance considerations include how the aside is treated in the staging. The actor may turn toward the audience, speak with a lowered voice, or otherwise signal that the remark is meant for spectators. In some productions, the aside is audibly overheard by other characters, while in others it remains private. Modern usages may break the fourth wall, explicitly signaling the audience’s involvement beyond traditional boundaries.

Related concepts include the fourth wall, when actors acknowledge the audience, and other dramatic devices such as the monologue and the soliloquy. Asides remain a versatile tool for quick exposition, wit, or commentary within a scene, contributing to character development and plot progression without derailing dialogue.