Literary notes about impenitent (AI summary)
The term "impenitent" in literature often serves as a marker of unwavering defiance or moral steadfastness. In Kipling’s work, for example, it is used as an exclamation to emphasize a character's obstinate refusal to conform to expected religious or social norms ([1]). Chekhov employs the term in connection with death and finality, describing characters who face their end without remorse ([2], [3], [4]), thus imbuing the word with a somber, existential quality. Meanwhile, Dumas leverages its dramatic cadence to invoke a sense of doom and despair ([5]), and both Eliot and Shaw use it to question societal and judicial judgments, probing whether such unrepentance might be a justified stance even among public criminals or exemplary figures ([6], [7], [8]). Lastly, Wharton’s casual admission of being "absolutely impenitent" ([9]) highlights its modern, self-assured connotation, reflecting a confident nonconformity.