Literary notes about relapse (AI summary)
The word "relapse" has been used in literature to evoke a return to a previous state, whether emotional, physical, or behavioral. In many works, authors employ the term to illustrate an involuntary or habitual reversion, as seen when a character slips back into despair or melancholy, such as Isaac’s descent into desolation in [1] or Marie’s immediate reversion to her old condition in [2]. At times, it conveys an intermittent lapse into affectation or silence, illustrated by the momentary switch into affectation in [3] or a reluctant return to contemplation in [4]. Moreover, the term is also applied to describe recurring deteriorations in health or spirit, highlighted by Nina Fyodorovna’s unmistakable symptoms in [5] and the ominous fear of a relapse in [6]. Across this spectrum, "relapse" serves as a literary device to underscore the difficulty of escaping one’s inherent nature or past struggles.