In literature, “collapse” functions as a versatile metaphor that spans the physical, emotional, and systemic. It is used to depict the sudden downfall of entire structures—both literal, as when a house seems ready to cave in [1] or a body appears to give out [2]—and figurative, as in the abrupt disintegration of financial or political systems [3] or the ruin of cherished ideals [4]. Authors experiment with the term to capture moments of vulnerability and demise, whether it’s the instantaneous failure of an edifice under pressure [5] or the gradual erosion of moral or societal frameworks [6]. This layered use of “collapse” intensifies the narrative, allowing readers to experience both the tangible and intangible breakdowns that drive a story’s dramatic tension [7].