Literary notes about Discontent (AI summary)
In literature, discontent serves as a multifaceted term that conveys both internal emotional turbulence and broader social or political unrest. It is often employed to evoke a deep, personal dissatisfaction, as when a character's soul is overflowed with offense and sorrow [1, 2], or to underline the subtle yet pervasive impact of inner turmoil on one’s character and relationships [3, 4]. Discontent also frequently marks a state of resistance against oppressive systems or unjust authority, reflecting general societal or political grievances that can incite rebellion or reform [5, 6, 7]. Moreover, its usage extends to describing the seeds of transformation—whether through a quiet, introspective sigh in the face of personal despair or as a driving force behind collective upheaval [8, 9, 10].
- What may be wrought out of their discontent, Now that their souls are topful of offence.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. LEWIS.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - Sorrow and discontent had taken deep root in Werther's soul, and gradually imparted their character to his whole being.
— from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Lucy soon lost interest in the discontent of Lady Louisa, and became discontented herself.
— from A Room with a View by E. M. Forster - His government was oppressive or unpopular, and the general discontent was expressed with freedom by the deputies of Rome.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - The public discontent was soon diffused from the centre to the frontiers of the empire.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - Such a tax, as it affects the body of the people, has ever been the occasion of clamor and discontent.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - And because it was the perfection of that style, it awoke in Leonardo some seed of discontent which lay in the secret places of his nature.
— from The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry by Walter Pater - During all this time, the general, on whom they thought to have relied as on a brother, manifested evidently signs of discontent and repugnance.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - If you would only pray for me, Tess!" The suppressed discontent of his manner was almost pitiable, and yet Tess did not pity him.
— from Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman by Thomas Hardy
