Literary notes about ally (AI summary)
In literature, "ally" is employed to evoke both concrete and abstract forms of partnership that drive the narrative forward. It often appears in contexts of conflict and strategy where loyalty and trust are essential, as when a steadfast supporter is called upon in military or political strife ([1], [2], [3]). At the same time, the term can denote personal bonds that shape character interactions, imbuing narratives with layers of reliability and moral support ([4], [5]). Beyond its literal use, "ally" is sometimes employed metaphorically to capture the harmonious union of opposing forces—such as the blending of passion with reason ([6])—or to illustrate the complex interplay between individual agency and collective destiny. This versatility makes the word a powerful literary tool, enriching both historical accounts and fictional adventures alike.
- And yet you are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with me, When for your faithful ally you might win me easily.
— from Lysistrata by Aristophanes - But each of the contracting parties had a right to the other's assistance against invasion, whether of his own territory or that of an ally.
— from The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - Sitalces, his son, was now sought as an ally by the Athenians, who desired his aid in the reduction of the Thracian towns and of Perdiccas.
— from The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - As I descended, my old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door tightly behind him.
— from Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - I felt that I must have something in reserve for my dreadful acquaintance, and his ally the still more dreadful young man.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - This shows that passion is the ally of reason.
— from The Republic by Plato
