ASIDES Meaning and
Definition
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Asides, in a theatrical context, refer to brief remarks or speeches uttered by characters in a play that are intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters sharing the stage. These side comments are usually spoken directly to the audience, often breaking the fourth wall, a symbolic boundary that separates the stage from the audience in conventional theater. Asides serve various purposes such as providing insights into a character's thoughts, feelings, or intentions that they do not wish to reveal to other characters, or offering humorous or reflective commentary on the events unfolding in the play.
Typically, asides are distinguished by a change in tone, volume, or physical positioning of the character speaking them. They are used effectively to create dramatic irony, as the audience becomes privy to information that other characters on stage are unaware of, thus establishing a connection between the audience and the character. Asides can be found in both comedic and tragic plays, and their use allows playwrights to heighten tension, reveal subtext, or offer social critique.
In summary, asides refer to brief comments addressed directly to the audience by characters on stage, which are not meant to be heard by other characters. They serve to enhance dramatic irony, provide insights into character thoughts, and offer commentary or humor, all while bridging the gap between audience and stage.
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Etymology of ASIDES
The word "asides" originated from the Middle English term "asiden" which came from two Old English words: "a-" meaning "on" or "at" and "sidan" meaning "side". The combination of these two elements gave rise to "asiden" meaning "on the side" or "to one side".
Over time, "asiden" transformed into "aside" in Modern English, still retaining the meaning of "on the side". This term is often used to describe a dramatic technique in theater where a character delivers a line directly to the audience, while supposedly unheard by the other characters on stage. Hence, "asides" refers to these lines or moments spoken by characters in a play that are meant to be heard only by the audience.
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