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Literary notes about gaze (AI summary)

The term "gaze" in literature is far more than a mere act of looking; it encapsulates a spectrum of emotions and reveals underlying dynamics between characters and their worlds. At times it signifies a powerful, almost mystical connection that unveils hidden truths or deep emotions, as when an inscrutable gaze holds a silent but profound authority ([1]) or when a fixed, searching gaze captures a soul’s deepest yearning ([2]). In other contexts, the gaze denotes both scrutiny and vulnerability—transforming an ordinary glance into a moment laden with significance, whether in the weight of public judgment ([3]) or the tender intimacy of a romantic encounter ([4], [5]). Spanning narratives from ancient epics to modern novels, "gaze" emerges as a multifaceted symbol that enables readers to experience characters’ inner lives and the often transformative impact of being seen.
  1. No sooner did Eugene come into the room, than his eyes met the inscrutable gaze of Vautrin.
    — from Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac
  2. But what he was contemplating with that profound gaze was not her beauty but her soul.
    — from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  3. There, outward embellishment must be perfect in every detail, and the least defect stands shamed and unable to face the public gaze.
    — from My Reminiscences by Rabindranath Tagore
  4. "I feel myself almost a spirit when I gaze upon them.
    — from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
  5. “Wostóv, you’ve not been playing schoolboy twicks...” Rostóv felt Denísov’s gaze fixed on him, raised his eyes, and instantly dropped them again.
    — from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy

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