Literary notes about perplex (AI summary)
The word "perplex" has been used in literature to denote a state of confusion or bewilderment, whether in philosophical musings, narrative tension, or even in technical contexts. Philosophers and essayists such as Schopenhauer ([1]), Santayana ([2], [3]), and Burke ([4]) employ it to describe the limitations of reason and the uncanny complexity of thought, suggesting that certain ideas or phenomena naturally disturb clear understanding. In personal narratives and character development, as seen in Helen Keller’s work ([5]) or in the reflective tones of Du Bois ([6]) and Harte ([7]), "perplex" conveys a deliberate emotional or intellectual disarray that adds depth to the human experience. Its usage also stretches into more whimsical or playful terrains, where even a puzzling mathematical problem can leave novices baffled ([8], [9], [10]), while classic literary figures like Blake ([11]) and Byron ([12]) use it to evoke a sense of tangled, inescapable confusion.