Emotion
‹ 6 · Outline · 8 ›
7.Despair, melancholy and dejection
7a.Despair and suicide
See also: Life and Death 6c
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 13Despair over his father's presumed death; no comfort in hope.read · scan
- p. 142–143Odysseus weeps and loses the will to live at hearing he must go to the house of Hades.read · scan
- p. 274–275Penelope's despairing grief; she wishes for death and finds sleep the only relief from sorrow.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 73–74Bitter lament and despair at suffering.read · scan
- p. 79–80Desperate speech of a man in anguish.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 166Abandonment, despair and mockery from onlookers.read · scan
Sophocles, Oedipus the KingVol. 8
- p. 245–246Jocasta's despair and suicide and Oedipus's raving grief are narrated with horror.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 294–296Haemon's wrath and despair, Eurydice's terrible silence, and Creon's woe and self-reproach.read · scan
- p. 297–298Creon's overwhelming grief and despair on learning of his wife's death; he begs for his own end.read · scan
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 307–309Phaedra's secret sorrow beyond allayment leads her toward death.read · scan
- p. 331–334Phaedra's despair, rage against the Nurse, and sense of doom are dramatized in lament and cursing.read · scan
The Bhagavad-Gita; or, Song CelestialVol. 45
- p. 789–791Arjuna, sick at heart and weeping in despair, drops his bow and says he will not fight.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 117Despair and grief drive Aeneas back to fight, amid tears and laments.read · scan
- p. 167Dido, sunk in grief, hates the light of heaven and resolves on death; fear and haunting dreams torment her.read · scan
- p. 344Turnus rages in shame and despair, contemplating suicide by sword or sea.read · scan
- p. 406Queen Amata's despair, Lavinia's grief and Latinus's mourning show anguish and shame; the queen hangs herself.read · scan
- p. 412Fear and despair grip Turnus and Juturna; she beats her breast and tears her hair in grief.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 919–920Man turns away when favoured but despairs when evil touches him.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 90–91Joy at deliverance turns to despair, even wishing for death.read · scan
- p. 243Marooned, Sindbad is overcome by grief, vexation and despair, weeping and wailing like a madman.read · scan
- p. 268Despair and self-blame.read · scan
- p. 355Buried alive, the boy realizes the deception and gives way to despair, weeping and wailing in the dark.read · scan
- p. 407–409Grief, shame and despair drive him to wander and nearly drown himself, until hope returns.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 366–367Sigrun dies soon of sorrow and trouble.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 211–213Percivale and Bors grieve at Galahad's death, nearly falling into despair.read · scan
William Caxton, Prefaces and EpiloguesVol. 39
- p. 5–7He falls into despair over the work and abandons it for two years.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 228–229Cellini falls into despair and misery when his friend refuses to help; the friend weeps.read · scan
- p. 234–235Despair gnaws at him in the darkness.read · scan
- p. 378Cellini despairs, howls and lashes out at those around him on hearing the casting is spoiled, while his housekeeper weeps.read · scan
- p. 428Overwhelmed by evils, Cellini feels his strength failing until a gleam of encouragement gives him hope of living.read · scan
- p. 434Neglect drives him half mad with despair and he loses patience.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 20–21The groom kills himself in despair at losing the King's friendship after his disgrace.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 249Cardenio's despair drives him into the mountains, wishing to end his life, raving and cursing his fates.read · scan
- p. 252An unseen speaker laments in solitude, wishing the rocks be a sepulchre and finding no mortal comfort.read · scan
- p. 265Comfortless she comforts herself with languishing hopes, abhorring life.read · scan
- p. 268Cardenio's despair over Lucinda's forced wedding drove him to the wilds, hating life and losing his wits.read · scan
- p. 352Anselmo, assaulted by his thoughts, sighs in sorrow beside the road after learning of the flight.read · scan
- p. 354–355He yields his life to sorrow, though he pardons Camilla.read · scan
- p. 438–439Despair and confusion at dawn make him roar like a bull.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 224Despair and suicidal impulses beset Faustus, held back by sweet pleasure.read · scan
- p. 239–240Faustus, condemned to die, is driven by despair and distrust and seeks to quiet his passions in sleep.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 270–271Self-pity, despair and grief, relieved by love.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 65–66Edward's despair and dread at the name of Mortimer, wishing never to open his eyes.read · scan
- p. 68Despairing thoughts and rage torment him as he is pressed to resign.read · scan
- p. 77–78Edward's despair and anguish over the loss of Gaveston and his own fate.read · scan
- p. 83–86Edward's fear, trembling and grief at the loss of his crown: 'a hell of grief'.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 291Gloucester's despair drives him to attempt suicide; Edgar stages a fake cliff-leap to cure it.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 724–726Bellario, weary, wishes for death instead of waking.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 814Duchess's despair and grief; wishes to die.read · scan
- p. 814–817Duchess's despair, rage and cursing of stars and world.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 879Marrall tempts Wellborn to despair and suicide; Wellborn answers he has confidence beyond hope.read · scan
William Drummond, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 326–327Grief and weariness of life, thoughts in mortal strife.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 7Resentment and despair; sleeping fire within roused by the storm.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 87Severus reels in despair on learning Pauline is another's wife; his strength proves a reed.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 88–90Satan racked with despair, vaunting aloud, with immortal hate and revenge.read · scan
- p. 304Adam, tossed in a troubled sea of passion, begins a sad complaint.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 384Satan's despair: where no hope is left, no fearread · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Samson's despair and fear of enemies coming to insult his affliction.read · scan
- p. 415Despair, grief and sense of heaven's desertion consume him; he prays for speedy death.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 229Mariane's despair and Dorine's impatience with her timidity.read · scan
- p. 231–232Mariane's despair and threat to die under this martyrdom.read · scan
- p. 264–266Mariane's despair and grief dominate her plea.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 233Terror and wonder at people's failure to despair.read · scan
- p. 271Saying Christ did not die for all favours despair rather than hope.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 19Fear drove Christian into the bog; despondency fills the sinner.read · scan
- p. 36–38The man in the iron cage sighs and is sad, introducing despair.read · scan
- p. 38–39Despair: he cannot repent or hope, gnawed by misery like a burning worm.read · scan
- p. 116–117Giant Despair captures the pilgrims and they suffer sorrow, Christian doubly for his unadvised haste.read · scan
- p. 117Despair, with wife Diffidence, beats the pilgrims and urges them to kill themselves; they weep and lament.read · scan
- p. 119–120Christian swoons and is dejected while the Giant rages; Hopeful comforts him.read · scan
- p. 120–121Giant threatens to tear them in pieces, filling them with lament.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 71–76Cleopatra's despair and longing for death after Antony's supposed rejection; Dolabella's remorse.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 161–163Phaedra's shame at rejection and despair drive her toward death.read · scan
William Cowper, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 535–537Despair, loneliness and sorrow of the castaway, softened by the thought of mercy.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 64–66Despair, weeping and dread of each morning and dreaming night.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 270Despair, jealousy and shame overwhelm him, driving him to contemplate poison.read · scan
Lady Anne Lindsay, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 557–558Grief and longing for death.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 21–22Sorrow, grief and despair voiced in the refrain and in the fear for wife and children.read · scan
- p. 192–194Despair and melancholy: life is a weary dream while every creature is blest but the speaker.read · scan
- p. 280–283Distracted mind suits howling tempests; a lost cause leaves the speaker friendless.read · scan
- p. 304–305Joyless despair amid spring and loyal friends' ruin mourned.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 341Lucia's night of exhaustion, dread of the future, and longing for death, until she remembers she can pray.read · scan
- p. 537–539Terror and despair overwhelm him as his thoughts grow confused.read · scan
- p. 550–552Renzo's despair at the desolate scene and the friend's bewilderment from misfortune and solitude.read · scan
Thomas De Quincey, Levana and Our Ladies of SorrowVol. 27
- p. 322Our Lady of Sighs embodies hopeless, abject despair, meek and silent, contrasted with the stormy, rebellious grief of Madonna.read · scan
- p. 322–324Mater Tenebrarum, Our Lady of Darkness, embodies raging despair, madness and suicide, defying God, afflicting profound natures in convulsion.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 197The prince despairs, believing he will die, and weeps until she consoles him.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 796Despair, weeping, madness and curses as men face desolation.read · scan
- p. 805Grief, fear and frantic despair at losing the last loved one.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 827–829Despair and dejection: without hope, health, peace, love or fame; despair grown mild, wishing to weep away life's care.read · scan
John Keats, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 875–877Aching heart, despair and sorrow of thought.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1336–1337Terrible anguish, a shudder, tears, and the ending of hope, fear and aching longing.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 387–389Despair and madness drive the girl; Byron's speaker endures pain unsubdued.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 982–983Despair and angry fancy; passion leaves him with palsied heart.read · scan
- p. 1015–1016Despair, horror and bitterness over father's death and the ageread · scan
- p. 1016–1017Speaker's raging and despairing mood, tempted to flee or dieread · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1227–1228Narrator's fear, wonder and despair deepen as the raven answers only 'Nevermore' to his thoughts of Lenore.read · scan
- p. 1228–1230Grief turns to despair and frenzy as the narrator shrieks at the bird to leave.read · scan
- p. 1230–1231The raven's shadow holds the narrator's soul in unending despair; Ulalume's walker roams with a heart of volcanic feeling.read · scan
Alexander Smith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1146–1147Grief and despair at Barbara's loss, restless longing and unrest.read · scan
7b.Melancholy praised and dispelled
See also: Madness 4a
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 75Job's groanings and dread poured out like water.read · scan
- p. 84–85Job speaks in bitterness of soul, fear and sorrow.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 170–171Desolation and afflicted troubles of the heart.read · scan
- p. 189Sorrow, disquiet and throbbing heart; abandonment by friends and kin.read · scan
- p. 193–194Tears, disquiet and dejection of soul while enemies mock.read · scan
- p. 194–195Refrain 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul?' dramatizes despair, mourning and disquiet answered by hope.read · scan
- p. 225–226Weariness, weeping and distress of one sinking in deep waters.read · scan
- p. 226Reproach breaks the heart; he finds no pity or comforters.read · scan
- p. 237–238Troubled, sleepless distress of the psalmist, refusing comfort and doubting whether God has ceased to be gracious.read · scan
- p. 322–323Overwhelmed spirit, loneliness and complaint poured out to God.read · scan
- p. 324–325Desolate heart and failing spirit under persecution; soul thirsting like a weary land.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 518Paul's restlessness of spirit at not finding Titus.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 411–412Jesus in agony, disciples asleep for sorrow.read · scan
- p. 417The travelers look sad, their hope of redemption apparently lost.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 48–49Fortunate conquerors checked in fortune turn superstitious and melancholy, like Alexander and Charles V.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 15–16Isabella lives in grief and baleful discontent.read · scan
- p. 41Her heart is blasted with sighs and wasted with continual mourning.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 132–134Hamlet confesses melancholy, loss of mirth; earth seems a sterile promontory to him.read · scan
Richard Barnfield, The NightingaleVol. 40
- p. 283The nightingale's lonely lament evokes the speaker's own grief and sense of being unpitied.read · scan
John Fletcher, Aspatia's Song; MelancholyVol. 40
- p. 321–322Melancholy praised as the sweetest state; vain delights are short and nothing in life is sweet save sorrow.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 690–691Arethusa doubts a boy so young can know grief; care belongs to wrinkled brows.read · scan
- p. 720–721Arethusa, lost and sick in the forest, prays heaven ease her; Bellario fears she is dying.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 809–814Her melancholy, grief and disdain during imprisonment.read · scan
- p. 819Duchess endures grief and melancholy, seeking noise to keep sanity.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 333Donne expresses deep sadness, grief and discontent, spring's pleasures displeasing him as he withers.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 30Banishes melancholy and invokes Mirth, cheerful and light-hearted, contrasted with gloomy sorrow.read · scan
- p. 30–34Rejects vain joys and welcomes divine Melancholy, holy, pensive and contemplative.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 26–29Antony indulges melancholy and sighing, and Ventidius is moved by his sorrow, as the fallen emperor lies prostrate.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and BeautifulVol. 24
- p. 100Beauty's passion is nearer melancholy than mirth; sudden transitions excite tumultuous passions.read · scan
- p. 119Black keeps something melancholy because the change to it from other colours is too violent.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 341–342Tellheim dreads every look and word of Minna as reminder of his loss and wishes to avoid pain.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 30–32Winter storm soothes the poet's griefs, its leafless trees resembling his fate.read · scan
- p. 291–293Speaker's grief and mourning for country's wounds, seeking solace in howling storms and lonely wilds.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 386–388He is gloomy over his fate, foreseeing sorrowful last years.read · scan
- p. 557The solitude and silence deepen Renzo's consternation and gloomy thoughts.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 417He speaks of anguish that has aged him beyond years and wishes his tomb were the fallen mountain.read · scan
- p. 437–442Manfred describes broken hearts and weariness as maladies slaying more than fate; his desolate solitude.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 846–848Poet laments that peace is rarer in Shelley's mind than calm in waters; a widow bird mourns her love.read · scan
John Keats, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 881–882Advice against melancholy's poison: glut sorrow on beauty rather than go to Lethe.read · scan
Victor Hugo, Preface to CromwellVol. 39
- p. 343Christianity brought melancholy, between gravity and sadness, transforming the heathen Cato's despair as man pities mankind.read · scan
- p. 344–345Melancholy and meditation arise with the spirit of analysis and controversy in the era of transition.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 224–225The duckling is melancholy, downcast and afraid, an outcast.read · scan
- p. 244–246Her melancholy deepens after leaving him; she tells her sisters nothing.read · scan
- p. 246–247Growing sorrow, neglect of her garden, and inability to endure secrecy.read · scan
- p. 323–325The Learned Man takes it to heart and falls ill with grief and torment, unlike the unfeeling Shadow.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 106Dejection and relief of spirits are tied to his thinking on necessity.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 922–923Weeping over sad, melancholy years.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1273–1275Dreary days mirror sadness, longing and repining; hopes of youth fall like dead leavesread · scan
- p. 1276–1278Memory of past restless care and tears; the sorrows of others now shadow the speakerread · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1354–1355Regret and vain longing for youth's dreams; the poet pities both.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 378–379Longfellow's verses evoke a gentle sadness and longing, soothed by simple songs.read · scan
- p. 381–383The poem leaves a pleasurable sadness; melancholy thrills the soul.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1054–1055Madness, horror and despair give way to a dream of the beloved that lightens his mood.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 12–13Dawn on the boundless sea gives a feeling of loneliness, dread and melancholy foreboding.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Twenty-Four Years AfterVol. 23
- p. 389Depression overcomes him and cannot be rallied by thoughts of his better fortune.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1128–1130Grief and memory in the autumn evening.read · scan
Algernon Charles Swinburne, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1201–1202Grief and heartache contrasted with the swallow's light heart in spring.read · scan
7c.Dejection without pang: the numbed soul
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 139Seated at the feast, Odysseus's soul finds no pleasure in food and his heart forebodes ill.read · scan
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 97–98Job's sorrow dims his eye; he is a byword, spat upon, his purposes broken.read · scan
Sophocles, Oedipus the KingVol. 8
- p. 248He wishes to close every sense against the world, keeping the soul beyond the reach of ills.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 319Years of suffering under the senate's degradation broke and damped his spirits.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 378Despite all the rejoicing, the princess remains silent, sad and bewildered.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 131–133The knight rides sorrowful and weeping, dejected in shabby clothes.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 237–238The singer ends in sighs and doleful plaints, a dejected malcontent.read · scan
- p. 356The masked lady sighs deeply and lets her arms fall, dismayed and sorrowful.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 387–388Macbeth says he has almost forgotten the taste of fear; repeated horrors have made him numb to night-shrieks.read · scan
William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, To AuroraVol. 40
- p. 314–315Shared sorrows made none by harmony; pride and griefs borne alone.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 65–66Christian sighs bitterly at the darkness and danger of the path.read · scan
- p. 128–130Grief over his loss swallows up the comfort of the certificateread · scan
- p. 130Little-faith's bitter grief, doleful complaints and retelling of his robberyread · scan
- p. 159Darkness, horror and heartfear overcome Christian while Hopeful strives to cheer him.read · scan
- p. 253–255Fearing lies in the cold, afraid to knock, weeping and sighing; his dejection persists despite others' entry.read · scan
- p. 275–276He is easily offended and dejected, feeling like a despised lamp among the strong.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 237–238The wealthy suffer personal pain, domestic sorrow, anxieties, and languor of satiety that religion relieves.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 360–361His spirit is lifted from fretful dejection to energetic resolve.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 329–330Ferdinand's despair at being helpless and fettered, his heart rent by anguish.read · scan
William Wordsworth, Prefaces to Various Volumes of PoemsVol. 39
- p. 274–276Gray's sonnet expresses lonely anguish and grief unrelieved by the cheerful morning.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 728–729Dejection: a grief without pang or outlet; the speaker sees but cannot feel beauty.read · scan
- p. 730Joy is the power that weds Nature to us; affliction has suspended the poet's joy.read · scan
Thomas Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 770–771Sorrow returns with morning as the dream fades.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 40–41Lucia weeps and all are silent in depression, contrasting with their festive wedding clothes.read · scan
- p. 339–340Lucia is numb with grief and terror, likened to a delirious patient, while the old woman shows envy and rancour.read · scan
- p. 454–455Scenes of despondency, shame and sorrow among the newly destitute.read · scan
- p. 567–568Profound quiet grief and pity evoked by the mother and lifeless child, reviving exhausted feeling.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 407–409Sleepless grief and inner vigil consume him since an unnamed hour; he feels no fear, hope or love.read · scan
- p. 415Barrenness of spirit and despair; he is his own soul's sepulchre.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 784–785Laments the decay of youthful feeling into numbness, a soul too cold to weep for others' woes or its own.read · scan
- p. 794–796Passions have torn him; he will not benumb his feelings further.read · scan
- p. 799–801Sorrow deeper than a wail over the dead; pride bows and soul forsakes him.read · scan
- p. 807Numb despair after loss, a stony blankness without thought or feeling, broken by a bird's song.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 294–295Beatrice's terror, forced calm and near despair after the father's violation.read · scan
- p. 306–309Her misery is nameless, a horror without form or tongue.read · scan
Thomas Hood, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 911Wistful loss and weariness in adulthood.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 85He describes dejection, a dulled inability to enjoy anything, like the state of Methodist converts under conviction of sin.read · scan
- p. 86Mill describes deepening dejection, a grief without pang, with books and love of mankind failing to move him; Coleridge's lines describe it.read · scan
- p. 87–89Mill's melancholy and indifference; premature gratification of vanity left him blasé, and neither selfish nor unselfish pleasures pleased.read · scan
- p. 89Reading Marmontel's account of his father's death moved Mill to tears, relieving his belief that all feeling was dead and lightening his despair.read · scan
- p. 92–93Mill's depression and his search for poetry that could rouse or relieve feeling.read · scan
Giuseppe Mazzini, Byron and GoetheVol. 32
- p. 389–390Goethe experienced sensations, Byron emotions; egotism of indifference versus egotism of despair.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1049–1051Anguish hangs on him like shame as he wanders through the crowd, wasted.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 399Mildred's numb anguish and apathy as she waits for the lover who does not come, after shame and loss.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 102–103Gloom, silence and sleeplessness follow the flogging.read · scan
- p. 248–249Chips is dejected and cannot eat when no letter comes for him.read · scan
- p. 249–250The carpenter remains dejected, bearing the sailors' jokes and crude consolation poorly.read · scan
- p. 354Dana feels apathy on reaching home, like the sailor who lost feeling on arrival; long expectation gives stagnation when realized.read · scan
- p. 354–356After activity ceases the author falls into calm near indifference until new work rouses mind and body together.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Twenty-Four Years AfterVol. 23
- p. 388–389His recollections and emotions are all sad, depressed by loss.read · scan
Algernon Charles Swinburne, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1202–1204Weariness of tears and laughter, desires and dreams; longing for sleep.read · scan
7d.Remorse and guilt
See also: Sin 7b
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 205–206Guilt and sorrow give way to the hoped-for restoration of joy and gladness.read · scan
Sophocles, Oedipus the KingVol. 8
- p. 246–248Oedipus wails in anguish and remorse after blinding himself; the chorus recoils in horror and pity.read · scan
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 350–351Hippolytus' anguish at being vile to all men, wishing to weep for pity of himself.read · scan
Euripides, The BacchaeVol. 8
- p. 435–436Grief and shame expressed in tears and the wish to forget the Bacchic rites.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 73Aeneas, struck with fright, wishes he had died at Troy, envying those who fell before their parents.read · scan
- p. 210Tears, remorse and disdain mark the meeting of Aeneas and Dido's shade.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 412–413Peter's bitter weeping after remembering the Lord's word.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 105–106Groans and tumult of heart as he silently seeks the origin of evil.read · scan
- p. 133–134Fear, shame and horror grip him as the moment of change approaches.read · scan
- p. 135A storm of tears bursts from contemplating his misery; he weeps in solitude and contrition.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 37The sage weeps bitterly and laments the benefit he did to the undeserving; the king acts from fear.read · scan
- p. 67–68The narrator's repentance, grief and near madness over his cousin's fate; he is stunned by news of his father's death.read · scan
- p. 75–76The prince, overcome by fear and remorse, cannot bear her cries and repents bitterly.read · scan
- p. 93He shrieks, beats his face and rends his clothes in anguish at the accidental killing.read · scan
- p. 128–130His grief and shame are shown in tears, and his wife's anxiety and weeping.read · scan
- p. 137–138Fear grips him as the intoxication of love gives way to reflection and repentance.read · scan
- p. 177He weeps, slaps his face and tears his clothes in grief.read · scan
- p. 278He sits weeping and mourning, repenting having landed and remembering his companions' fate.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 268Dante trembles, weeps at Virgil's departure and is weighed with shame under Beatrice's stern rebuke.read · scan
- p. 272Shame and remorse strike Dante silent like a chastened child.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 68–70Pride, resentment and remorse drive Barbara from coldness to grief-stricken death.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 130–131Launcelot weeps, curses the time he was born, calls himself a wretch and is somewhat comforted by birdsong.read · scan
- p. 202Launcelot's heaviness at the death of Pelles's daughter and Ector's doubled sorrow and shame.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 244–246Cardenio's grief, despair and self-reproach as he hears Lucinda say 'I will' and she faints.read · scan
- p. 313–315Peter's grief and shame are cited to show self-known guilt afflicts.read · scan
- p. 315Shame at one's own error, though unseen, brings continual tears of blood.read · scan
- p. 352Anselmo's grief and sadness unsettle his judgment as the betrayal becomes clear.read · scan
- p. 361Fernando holds back tears of fervent love and remorse.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 244Faustus is torn by despair and repentance, his heart in conflict.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 162–171The Queen reports Hamlet's madness yet weeping remorse; the King's soul is full of discord and dismay.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 340Macbeth is overcome by fear and horror at his bloody hands; Lady Macbeth tries to calm him.read · scan
- p. 341–343Every noise appalls Macbeth; he dare not look upon his deed.read · scan
- p. 354–356Macbeth's mind is full of scorpions; fear and terrible dreams torment him nightly, and he envies the dead.read · scan
- p. 381–382Her sigh reveals a heart sorely charged with remorse and horror.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 442–443Guilt drives the three to despair and desperate frenzy, which Gonzalo fears will provoke them to harm.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 726Philaster says he will die of grief for wounding Bellario.read · scan
- p. 731Philaster's heart breaks with shame and sorrow; tears and grief in prisonread · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 827Bosola's grief and pity at the Duchess's death; Ferdinand's horror and madness.read · scan
- p. 827–832Bosola laments his tears came too late, his despair, and resolves to act on his dejection.read · scan
John Eliot, Eliot's Brief NarrativeVol. 43
- p. 143The ruler was overtaken by a passion, then grieved over it.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 301–303Browne feels a Hell within himself; a distracted conscience is a foretaste of Hell.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 90Satan, weeping, shows remorse and passion at the fate of his followers.read · scan
- p. 281Shame makes Adam wish to hide in the woods and dread the sight of God and Angels; they sit to weep.read · scan
- p. 292Shame, fear, perturbation and hate replace love in the looks of the guilty pair.read · scan
- p. 304Despair and remorse pervade Adam's lament.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Restless thoughts swarm like hornets; grief and shame over betrayal and blindness.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 13–14Sighs, tears and distress mark his anguish through the night.read · scan
- p. 46–47Fear, distress and sorrow of heart over the lost Roll; Christian sighs, weeps and chides himself.read · scan
- p. 140–141Convictions bring heart-affrighting hours of fear and torment.read · scan
- p. 180Her tears, heavy thoughts and remorse at the loss of a loving relation.read · scan
- p. 203–204Christiana and Mercy weep and blush at understanding their own sinfulness.read · scan
- p. 208–209Grief, guilt and fear of enemies from her dream trouble Christiana; Mercy blushes and trembles.read · scan
- p. 232–233Christiana weeps and reproaches herself as a careless mother.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 180–181Remorse, shame, fear and jealous anguish tear at Phaedra as she speaks.read · scan
- p. 189–191Phaedra's agitation and despair, Theseus's remorse and grief at Hippolytus's death.read · scan
- p. 191–193Anguish and remorse of Theseus; Aricia's grief.read · scan
- p. 194–196Theseus's grief, remorse and despair over his son.read · scan
- p. 196Repentance and grief of Theseus for his detested prayer.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 241Passions and anxiety of scruples were the most disagreeable part of his life.read · scan
- p. 264–266Avenging passions such as envy and ambition torment the wicked's hearts.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 170Pleasure at the exploit turns to horror and trouble of mind.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 145–146Faust's anger, remorse and torment at Mephistopheles' mockery.read · scan
- p. 157–159Margaret's prayer overflows with grief and anguish, weeping and heartbreak; Valentine's despair and rage at his sister's shame.read · scan
- p. 164–167Margaret's horror, oppression and swooning.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 33–35Passions wild and strong led him wrong.read · scan
- p. 48–50Pangs of remorse and gnawing guilt described as worse than any misfortune.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 398–399Melchthal's horror, grief and self-reproach, broken by sobs.read · scan
- p. 485Tell shrinks with horror yet his soul bleeds; John is in despair.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 722–723Christabel's fear and rapture, the Baron's alarm; Leoline's remorse over his old quarrel.read · scan
Thomas Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 774–776Fatherly grief and remorse at the daughter's death in the storm.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 83–84Rodrigo speaks in agitation of anger and remorse; the friar flushes crimson.read · scan
- p. 131Lucia's conscience reproaches her for concealment, while the refugees wait in suspense.read · scan
- p. 151–153Gertrude is left with fear, shame, remorse and hatred toward her guardian, who hates her in turn.read · scan
- p. 171Self-accusation, bitterness and secret pining.read · scan
- p. 174The Signora has no peace; the image of the vanished nun haunts her mind.read · scan
- p. 344Regret and consternation replace anger; he cannot even summon irritation to animate him.read · scan
- p. 362The Unnamed is torn between hope of relief from inward torment and shame at coming as a penitent; veneration subdues his haughtiness.read · scan
- p. 365–366The Unnamed changes from wild look to astonishment and tears; his eyes, unused to weeping, are suffused.read · scan
- p. 371Federigo's grateful tenderness and humble joy, and the Unnamed's confusion, modesty and contrition.read · scan
- p. 372The Unnamed's intense agitation and impatience to free Lucia.read · scan
- p. 402–403Remorse and worry contrasted with his odd drowsiness; followers murmur, hesitate and are moved by his words.read · scan
- p. 424Abbondio feels compunction, shame and pity, though fear of Don Rodrigo checks his contrition, like a wick slow to light.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 411–414His heart is crushed; the curse denies him rest and joy.read · scan
- p. 417–419Despair, feverish delirium and agonized remorse drive Manfred's wild starts.read · scan
- p. 419Remorse and despair, pity received with endurance.read · scan
- p. 437Despair and remorse depicted as overwhelming inner torment.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 301Giacomo is heavy with sleepless care and dread of his own murderous thoughts.read · scan
- p. 316–318Giacomo is tortured between just hate and vain remorse, wishing his father not dead.read · scan
- p. 337Remorse and fear; Orsino says his penitence is fear disguised from its shame.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 854–855Melancholy, tears and repentance mark the solitary parting.read · scan
- p. 864–866Grief, mourning and tears of the gentle band; the envious critic's shame and remorse.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 333–334Terror, sorrow and tears mark her repentance.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1311–1313Anger and hatred give way to sobs of contrition under the priest's rebuke.read · scan
Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Contagiousness of Puerperal FeverVol. 38
- p. 229The elder practitioner bursts into tears upon recounting how his return to practice killed his first patient.read · scan
- p. 250–251Regret and warning voiced for heart-breaking calamity, presented as lesson rather than reproach.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 24Swift's hard heart melts into pathos, remorse and adoration when he speaks of Stella after her death.read · scan
- p. 27Swift veils feeling under cynical indifference, yet is left with memory and remorse over the victim's grave.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 369–372Mildred's weariness, dread and anguish, her heart failing as she conceals her secret from Guendolen.read · scan
- p. 378–380Anguish, shame and dread of betrayal drive Tresham's broken speech and pacing.read · scan
- p. 392Remorse and regret fill both men as anger gives way to pity.read · scan
- p. 392Grief, remorse and pity are voiced in the deathbed scene.read · scan
- p. 392–399Tresham's remorse and despair after killing Mertoun; he cannot bear the ancestral grounds now stained by blood.read · scan
Frank Aretas Haskell, The Battle of GettysburgVol. 43
- p. 360–361Anger and then remorse over spurring the wounded horse.read · scan
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