The conversation between Malcolm and Donalbain that occurs at the end of Act 2, Scene 3, actually does not consist of asides. An aside is a dramatic convention whereby a character, who is on stage with other characters, speaks either to himself, another character, or even the audience, without being heard by any character who is not supposed to hear. It is usually an opportunity for the audience to hear what a character is truly...
The conversation between Malcolm and Donalbain that occurs at the end of Act 2, Scene 3, actually does not consist of asides. An aside is a dramatic convention whereby a character, who is on stage with other characters, speaks either to himself, another character, or even the audience, without being heard by any character who is not supposed to hear. It is usually an opportunity for the audience to hear what a character is truly thinking, as we do not have access to their unspoken thoughts as we might in a novel or short story.
When Malcolm and Donalbain discuss their plans with one another, now that their father has been murdered, they are alone on stage with each other. Just before their private conversation, everyone on stage says the line, “Well contented” (2.3.159), and then there is a line of stage direction indicating that “All but Malcolm and Donalbain exit.” Therefore, there are no other characters on stage while they are speaking. If there had been, it is likely that those characters would carry on with conversations of their own so that they wouldn't notice the private interaction happening without them.
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