Literary notes about gag (AI summary)
The term "gag" in literature is remarkably versatile, functioning both as a literal device for silencing characters and as a metaphor for the suppression of free expression. In some narratives, it describes the physical restraint imposed on individuals, as seen when characters are bound and prevented from speaking, heightening suspense or underscoring injustice [1], [2], [3]. In other works, it takes on a humorous or satirical twist—evoking images of absurdity or social commentary on censorship—thus enriching the narrative with layers of irony and wit [4], [5], [6]. This duality allows authors to use the term to both intensify dramatic conflict and provide comedic relief, thereby deepening the reader's engagement with the unfolding drama.
- He turned squarely round, put a gag on his wife’s mouth, and feigned astonishment when the stolen child was mentioned to him.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - He is bound as before, and in his mouth there is a gag—tied so, with a tight string, making him look almost as if he laughed.”
— from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I tried to speak, but the gag was effective; I could not make a sound.
— from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain - It's always a nasty jar to wait for the laugh and find that the gag hasn't got across.
— from Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse - The “previous question,” that hated gag, was moved and carried.
— from The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner - It seemed to wrap itself round the tongue and impede utterance like a gag.
— from Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
