The term “guilty” serves as a multifaceted signifier in literature, frequently operating as both a legal verdict and an emblem of internal moral conflict. In some works, it describes the formal imputation of blame—whether through court verdicts delivered after long deliberations [1][2] or in declarations of personal responsibility amidst dramatic interrogations [3][4]. At the same time, the word resonates on an emotional level, conveying feelings of remorse, shame, or even foreboding, as characters confront inevitable consequences for their actions [5][6]. Moreover, “guilty” is employed to interrogate broader notions of justice and collective responsibility, inviting readers to reflect on the social dimensions of culpability and moral worth [7][8][9].