Literary notes about afraid (AI summary)
The term "afraid" serves as a multifaceted expression in literature, conveying not only fear but also uncertainty, politeness, and even irony. It is used to hint at a looming sense of danger or regret, as when a character dreads the consequences of their actions [1] or anticipates an interpretative failure that might affect others [2]. At times, it signifies deeper emotional or psychological conflict, revealing internal vulnerability beneath a composed exterior [3, 4]. Conversely, the word can offer a gentler, more apologetic tone—softening declarations and mitigating harsh truths [5, 6]—demonstrating its essential role in capturing the varied nuances of human sentiment.
- I was afraid something was going to happen, and I wished I hadn't spoken.
— from The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham - "I was afraid you would think I was taking a great liberty with you," said she, "in telling you all this.
— from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - I am afraid—sore afraid—that this purpose originated in my sense of the contrast there would be between me and Joe, if we went to the coach together.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - His imagination began to invest every movement of the old man with significance and he became every moment more afraid.
— from Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life by Sherwood Anderson - I am afraid I may frighten the company, frighten or enthrall them.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - He was evidently afraid to speak the last words.
— from Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
