Literary notes about Merited (AI summary)
In literature, “merited” is used to convey the idea that a person or action has justly earned a particular consequence—be it reward, punishment, or recognition. Authors employ the term to underscore characters’ accountability and the fairness of outcomes; for instance, a character in remorse may wonder how they "merited this scorn" [1], while another narrative asserts that certain deeds inevitably lead to deserved reproof or honors, as seen in depictions of both condemnation and commendation [2, 3]. This term thus elegantly bridges the gap between action and consequence, imbuing texts with a sense of moral balance and reflective introspection.
- What is it I have done?-How have I merited this scorn?”
— from Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World by Fanny Burney - Villefort merited punishment for what he had done to you, and, perhaps, to others.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time, had merited the severest reproof.
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
