For audiences,
asides are enjoyable as the player speaks to them indirectly on or near an edge of the stage,
thus drawing the audience into his/her thoughts and the action. In comedies they are especially
delightful, and one can easily imagine how much the groundlings enjoyed them. These asides,
spoken in an undertone by the characters, allow the audience to know the true feelings and
thoughts of these characters rather than the pretense of feeling that they make to others in the
scene with them.
In , as in other Shakespearean plays,
asides are indicated in italics and enclosed in brackets: [Aside] These
stage directions precede the actor's words and alert the reader/audience that only they are
privy to these thoughts.
- In , in which the servants of the feuding
Montagues and Capulets fight in the streets of Verona,and , servants of Capulet speak to each
other amid the fray.
Sampson
[Aside to Gregory] Is the law of our side, if I say aye? (1.1.25)
Gregory [Aside to Sampson] Say
"Better." Here comes one of my master's kinsmen. (1.1.33)
- In ,misinterprets 's tears after 's death, declaring that Juliet weeps that
the "villain," , who has slain Tybalt, yet lives.
Juliet [Aside] Villain and
he be many miles asunder
God pardon him!....(3.5.82)
- In ,expresses his thoughts aswonders why the sudden haste of Capulet now to
have Juliet and him marry:
Friar
Laurence [Aside] I would I knew not why it should be slowed.
Look, sir, here comes the lady toward my cell. (4.1.16-17)
- Inthere
are two asides, one by the page of Paris who wait outside the catacomb for his
master--
Page
[Aside] I am almost afraid to stand alone
Here in the churchyard,
yet I will adventure. (5.3.10)
- and the other one spoken by ,
servant to Romeo, who also awaits his master on the outside of the tomb:
Blathasar [Aside] For all
this same, I'll hide hereabout. (5.3.43)
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