Final answer:
In a play, an aside is a character's remark intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters on stage, providing insight into the character's thoughts or the plot to the audience alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of a play, a character's comment that is heard by the audience but not by other characters on stage is known as an aside. This dramatic device is used to reveal a character's inner thoughts or to give special information to the audience that remains unknown to the other characters. For example, in Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the title character often speaks to the audience directly, sharing his thoughts through asides and soliloquies. This technique enhances the relationship between the performer and the audience and creates a more intimate and insightful experience into the character's mind.
The audience plays a crucial role in the reception of these asides. They are privy to the private musings of the characters, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the narrative and the personalities involved. Unlike a novel, where the narrator can describe characters' thoughts, a play relies heavily on dialogue and physical actions to convey meaning. This reliance on speech and performance underlines the importance of asides in delivering key insights that drive the storyline and character development in a theatrical context.