Literary notes about scold (AI summary)
In literature, the term "scold" is employed to capture moments of both tender reproach and stern admonishment. Authors use it to illustrate a range of interpersonal dynamics—from a gentle parental rebuke that conveys care despite correction, as seen when a character reassures a child while warning against misbehavior [1][2], to more forceful societal or political criticisms where authority figures levy harsh reprimands [3][4]. Its usage often reflects the dual nature of discipline and affection, with some passages evoking humor and irony in the very act of scolding, as well as highlighting conflicts within both personal and broader social contexts [5][6]. This layered application underscores how a simple act of chastisement can simultaneously express frustration, concern, and even a peculiar kind of warmth.
- I can feed and nurse and pet and scold them; and mother will be my stand-by.
— from Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Louisa May Alcott - “Bessie, you must promise not to scold me any more till I go.”
— from Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë - For God's sake, take away this captive scold.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - “Come in, my braves,” said the king, “come in; I am going to scold you.”
— from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - ‘Because I KNOW you’re going to scold me,’ exclaimed Dora, in a piteous voice.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - Language, which Boreas might to Auster hold More rough than forty Germans when they scold.
— from An Essay on Man; Moral Essays and Satires by Alexander Pope
