Literary notes about rebuke (AI summary)
The term "rebuke" in literature is remarkably versatile, serving as both a gentle admonition and a severe reprimand. It is used to convey warmth and care when a criticism is absent or softly implied—as when a mother embraces her child without harsh rebuke [1] or when a smile or look carries an unspoken warning [2]. At the same time, it frequently appears in more formal or authoritative contexts, such as in religious texts where it underlines moral correction and divine disapproval [3], [4]. Authors also employ rebuke to heighten dramatic tension, whether through a bitter, personal reprimand [5] or a sharp, satirical remark aimed at social hypocrisy [6]. This range of usage enriches character interactions and underscores the multifaceted nature of criticism in literary works.
- And mother—mother just took me up in her arms, without one word of rebuke or harshness, kissed me and held me close to her heart.
— from Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery - A smile, a frown, a rebuke, a word of warning or encouragement, all involve some physical change.
— from Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education by John Dewey - These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast thou done this?
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Archer, changing colour, stood up also: it was the bitterest rebuke she could have given him.
— from The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton - "Dishing up the dirt to the young master can scarcely be described as gassing all over the place," I said, with a touch of rebuke.
— from Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
