Literary notes about abasement (AI summary)
In literature, “abasement” is employed to evoke a state of diminished self-worth or enforced humility, often reflecting a character’s internal struggle with pride and shame. Authors use the term both to illustrate the painful weight of personal guilt and as a transformative force that can lead to moral or spiritual elevation. In some instances, characters suffer from an overwhelming self-abasement that underscores their perceived failure or disgrace [1][2], while in others, the voluntary act of lowering oneself serves as a prelude to a higher form of redemption or insight [3][4]. This layered usage enriches the narrative, allowing readers to probe the duality of human vulnerability and the potential strength that can emerge from acknowledging one’s flaws.
- All is over for me,” she replied with shame and self-abasement.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - He felt in despair, and his self-abasement grew more bitter as the day went on.
— from This Man's Wife by George Manville Fenn - If thou invite me forth, I rise above abasement at the word.
— from Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - So perhaps whatever beauty of life still remains to me is contained in some moment of surrender, abasement, and humiliation.
— from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde
