Literary notes about coincidence (AI summary)
The term "coincidence" in literature functions as a versatile tool that can signify anything from a striking convergence of events to a philosophical commentary on fate and randomness. In narrative fiction, authors often use it to underscore an unexpected meeting or occurrence that propels characters into new situations, as seen in the terse exclamations of Joyce ([1], [2], [3]) or the ironic observations by Dickens ([4], [5], [6], [7]). Meanwhile, in more reflective or analytical texts, coincidence is employed to suggest deeper metaphysical or symbolic interrelations, whether casting doubt on mere chance—as in Coleridge’s contemplations ([8], [9]) and Freud’s psychoanalytic musings ([10], [11], [12])—or to introduce a methodical inquiry into historical or scientific phenomena, like Darwin’s subtle nod to evolutionary processes ([13]). Its usage, therefore, ranges from a marker of randomness in everyday encounters to a subtle clue in the interplay between reason and fate.