1. "Stars hide your fires, / Let not light see my black and deep desires." (Act I, Scene IV): This aside shows that Macbeth is plotting something sinister and wants to conceal it from the world. He doesn't want his evil intentions to be known.
2. "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, / For in my way it lies." (Act I, Scene IV): Macbeth reveals his ambition to become the king and acknowledges that the presence of Malcolm (the Prince of Cumberland) poses an obstacle to his plans.
3. "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs?" (Act I, Scene III): Macbeth struggles with the idea of murdering Duncan and questions why he is considering such an evil act. This internal conflict shows his moral dilemma and the fear that accompanies his desires.
4. "The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell / That summons thee to heaven, or to hell." (Act II, Scene I): As he walks to commit the murder of Duncan, Macbeth hears a bell tolling. This aside reveals his guilt and apprehension, as he imagines it as a warning of the consequences of his actions.
5. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?" (Act II, Scene I): Macbeth experiences hallucinations and sees a dagger floating before him. This aside reflects his wavering sense of reality and his increasing descent into madness and turmoil.
6. "Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep!' The innocent sleep, / Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care, / The death of each day's life." (Act II, Scene II): After murdering Duncan, Macbeth suffers from sleeplessness and guilt. This aside demonstrates the psychological impact of his crime, as he realizes that he has taken away the peaceful slumber that is essential for human well-being.
These asides reveal Macbeth's inner turmoil, his ambition, his fears, and his descent into madness as he grapples with the consequences of his actions. By providing access to his thoughts, Shakespeare uses asides to develop the complex character of Macbeth and explore the psychological aspects of his transformation.