The term refined takes on a rich variety of meanings in literary discourse. It can denote elegance and cultivated taste, as when characters are described as possessing a refined appearance or manner that sets them apart from the crude (e.g. [1], [2], [3]). At other times it conveys a sense of intellectual subtlety or delicacy in thought and emotion, as in discussions of refined ideas or the elevated nature of passions ([4], [5], [6]). Additionally, refined is sometimes used to mark the process of purification or transformation—from physical materials to cultural values, highlighting both a literal and metaphorical elevation (e.g. [7], [8]). Across these varied uses, refined encapsulates the tension between raw natural quality and the cultivated forms that arise through art, education, and social conditioning ([9], [10]).