Literary notes about disburden (AI summary)
The term "disburden" has been employed in literature with a fascinating range of meanings. In Emerson’s work [1], it conveys the act of liberating oneself from the weight of accumulated memories, suggesting a thoughtful revaluation of what is retained versus discarded. In contrast, Galdós’s usage [2] underscores a more forceful, even violent, removal, equating disburdening with striking down an object or idea. Freud’s application [3] yet again shifts the nuance, this time framing it as an emotional or psychological relief from the burden of guilt. Together, these examples illustrate how "disburden" can traverse diverse contexts—from the contemplative realms of memory and emotion to the physicality of action—demonstrating the word's rich adaptability in literature.
- When we have new perception, we shall gladly disburden the memory of its hoarded treasures as old rubbish.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson - dat. ), disburden; bring down (a violent blow).
— from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós - The subjugated sons have used the new relation to disburden themselves still more of their sense of guilt.
— from Totem and Taboo by Sigmund Freud
