Literary notes about Composure (AI summary)
In literature, "composure" frequently functions as a marker of a character’s inner steadiness or surface calm in the midst of chaos, conflict, or emotional upheaval. Authors often depict characters maintaining impeccable composure to reflect control, dignity, or even defiance—as when Madame Defarge uses her perfect composure to distance herself emotionally in [1]—or to signal the suppression of inner turmoil, as seen when a character struggles to regain it in [2]. At times, the term underscores the fragile balance between inner resolve and vulnerability, illustrated by situations where loss of composure hints at deeper anxieties or despair, as in [3]. Whether serving to elevate a character’s elegance through calm reassurance [4] or to highlight the dramatic impact of emotional breakdown under pressure [5], the word enriches narrative tension and deepens our understanding of character dynamics.