Literary authors often employ "obsequious" to evoke images of exaggerated submission or fawning deference, whether to a superior, a societal norm, or even a monarch. In some narratives, the term paints characters whose overly servile behavior borders on insincerity, as seen in portrayals of porters and servants ([1], [2]) or courtiers whose compliance critiques social hierarchies ([3], [4]). In classical and historical texts, the word assumes an added nuance—both reverential and derisive—illustrating complex power dynamics, as found in Homer’s epic verse ([5], [6]) and in satirical treatments of flattery ([7]). This dual usage not only characterizes individual conduct but also serves as a subtle commentary on the tension between genuine respect and obsequious adulation.