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Literary notes about Purpose (AI summary)

In literature, the word "purpose" assumes a multifaceted role, frequently denoting not just a goal or end but also the underlying intent driving actions and events. It may be used to articulate a character's resolute determination, as when precise and unwavering intent is evident in a movement or decision [1][2], or as a way to signal the functional aim behind objects and actions—as seen in discussions of systematic design or strategy [3][4]. At a broader level, purpose often embodies an ethical or philosophical ideal, shaping narratives and underscoring the moral or teleological framework within which characters and societies operate [5][6]. Even in instances where the motive or result is ambiguous or subject to interpretation, the term serves to invite readers to explore the deeper reasons behind both personal actions and historical developments [7][8].
  1. His movements were precise and definite; a firm purpose was evident in them.
    — from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  2. ‘You mistake my purpose, I see, ma’am,’ replied Mr. Nickleby, in his usual blunt fashion.
    — from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
  3. parts of, 989 ; with purpose clause, 1951 ; praestat with subj.
    — from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane
  4. He is usually represented as preceding his father and acting as his trumpeter, using a conch-shell for this purpose.
    — from Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Berens
  5. Every way of classifying a thing is but a way of handling it for some particular purpose.
    — from The Will to Believe, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy by William James
  6. The first purpose of nature would be man’s happiness , the second his culture .
    — from Kant's Critique of Judgement by Immanuel Kant
  7. I speak bitterly of Western civilization [Pg 110] when I am conscious that it is betraying its trust and thwarting its own purpose.
    — from Nationalism by Rabindranath Tagore
  8. If thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess thyself— SECOND CLOWN. Go to.
    — from Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare

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