Literary notes about unregenerate (AI summary)
The term "unregenerate" has been used in literature to convey both a literal and metaphorical sense of moral decay or inability to be renewed. In Saint Augustine’s theological context, the word is employed in its literal meaning to describe a state of being that is beyond redemption [1]. By contrast, Thomas Hardy’s use in Tess of the d'Urbervilles reflects a more nuanced portrayal of an individual's moral and spiritual stagnation, highlighting a contrast between those capable of transformation and those who remain unchangeably flawed [2]. In a modern twist, Jesse F. Bone injects a colloquial tone by having a character self-identify as an “unregenerate heel,” thus blending humor with the implied stubbornness of a person who finds comfort in their irredeemable nature [3].