Literary notes about Inopportune (AI summary)
The word "inopportune" in literature often carries a dual sense of untimeliness and misalignment with expected social or natural rhythms. In Doña Perfecta, Galdós uses it to intensify a vehement harangue [1], while Dumas and Maquet describe an unwelcome apparition interrupting domestic plans [2]. Hardy applies it even to nature, remarking on the misplaced appearance of mistletoe [3]. Montaigne broadens its scope by suggesting that one should actively deny every ill-timed action [4], a sentiment that echoes in Chekhov’s portrayal of conversational missteps [5] and Eliot’s criticism of imprudent behavior, such as abrupt departures [6]. Further, both Helen Keller and Eliot use the term to denote intrusive or poorly timed cultural phenomena, from meddlesome reporters to the grim prospect of an untimely decease [7, 8]. In these varied contexts, "inopportune" serves as a precise tool to underscore the disruption caused by poor timing in both human actions and the natural order.