Literary notes about obliged (AI summary)
The term "obliged" emerges in literature as a multifaceted expression, often indicating both compulsory duty and courteous deference. It frequently conveys necessity or the requirement imposed by external circumstances—as when a character is bound by agreements or physical limitations ([1], [2], [3])—while also functioning as a polite form of gratitude or acknowledgment ([4], [5]). In some narratives, this word encapsulates the tension between personal desire and external compulsion, emphasizing situations where characters must act in ways dictated by their circumstances ([6], [7]). Overall, "obliged" enriches the narrative by simultaneously highlighting legal or social constraints and the subtleties of courteous obligation.
- “I am obliged by our agreement to give him warning the day before, so it must be to-day.
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - His lassitude was now such that he was obliged to pause for breath every three or four steps, and lean against the wall.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - As I could not pass through the town, I was obliged to cross the lake in a boat to arrive at Plainpalais.
— from Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - 'Thank you, Ma,' said Lavvy, yawning, 'but I can do it for myself, I am obliged to you, when there's any occasion.'
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - “I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation,” replied Elizabeth, “but it is not in my power to accept it.
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - It jarred upon her to be obliged to commence instantly to tell lies in reply to so much confidence and simplicity.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - The old man was obliged to submit, whether he liked it or not, for he was bound so firmly that he could not move hand or foot.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
