Literary notes about monger (AI summary)
The term “monger” in literature is used both in its literal sense—to denote a seller or trader—and in a figurative sense to criticize someone who peddles a particular sentiment or vice. For instance, Shakespeare’s use of “love-monger” or “merit-monger” [1, 2] underscores a character whose dealings are tinted by personal motivation or judgment, while later writers expand its range to include figures such as scandal-mongers and character-mongers [3, 4], suggesting an almost predatory spread of rumors or shallow pursuits. Additionally, its presence in humble contexts—like that of the cheese-monger [5] or the iron-monger [6]—serves to ground the term in everyday trade, yet even here, the suffix becomes a marker of specific social roles, often with an ironic or critical twist.
- Thou art an old love-monger, and speakest skilfully.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - What, saith the merit-monger, will you look for life by the obedience of another man?
— from Works of John Bunyan — Volume 01 by John Bunyan - "You, Mr. Dennison," continued Prescott, "are a dirty scandal-monger, a back-biter and a source of danger to the honor of the cadet corps!"
— from Dick Prescott's Second Year at West Point Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock - She was his pet, his dear love, his dear little Burney, his little character-monger.
— from Critical and Historical Essays — Volume 2 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron - That day I was to propitiate a cheese-monger who occupied a fifth-floor apartment in the Cite.
— from My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner - On his confirmation day, George received a great pinchbeck watch from his godfather, the old iron monger's shopman, the richest of his godfathers.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen
