Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about duplicity (AI summary)

Literary authors frequently invoke duplicity to underscore the inherent contradiction between appearance and reality. Often, characters steeped in falsehood expose a dual nature that is as deceptive as it is fascinating—whether it is the biting critique of feigned affection in early short fiction ([1]), the moral ambivalence echoed in Austen’s commentary on human motives ([2], [3]), or the deliberate self-contradiction admitted as a purposeful strategy in Dostoyevsky’s narratives ([4]). In all these instances, duplicity serves as a powerful lens through which the dark undercurrents of human behavior and societal hypocrisy are brought into sharp relief.
  1. I do not demand love, but why this loathsome duplicity?
    — from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
  2. The manoeuvres of selfishness and duplicity must ever be revolting, but I have heard nothing which really surprises me.
    — from Persuasion by Jane Austen
  3. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this.
    — from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  4. I admit that I told you of Lebedeff’s duplicity, on purpose.
    — from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux