Melancholy is a feeling and theme often found in literature, art, and film. It indicates a deeper kind of sadness that helps shape stories and develop characters.
Whether it subtly influences a scene or defines an entire narrative, its impact can linger long after the final page. In this post, we’ll dive into what melancholy is, look at examples from classic works, and explore how its role has changed in literature and film.
What is melancholy in literature?
Melancholy (pronounced mel-uhn-kol-ee) is used in literature to create mood, develop characters, and stir emotions. You’ve probably felt it yourself—that deep sadness connected to loss or longing. In stories, it pulls you in, helping you relate to the emotional struggles of the characters. It often shapes the overall mood and themes, making the narrative more personal and real.
Melancholy can function as a noun or an adjective:
Noun: A state of deep sadness (e.g., “A sense of melancholy filled the room”)
Adjective: Describing something that causes deep sadness (e.g., “The empty house had a melancholy atmosphere”)
How to use melancholy in a sentence
Melancholy can be used as both a noun and an adjective. Whether you want to express a feeling or describe a mood, here are some examples to guide you.
Melancholy as a noun:
In this example, melancholy is used as a noun to describe a feeling of deep sadness.
Here, melancholy captures a sense of nostalgia and longing.
In this case, melancholy expresses the ache of realizing that time is fleeting.
Melancholy as an adjective:
Here, melancholy describes the sky’s gloomy atmosphere.
In this example, melancholy characterizes her gaze, highlighting her sadness.
In this sentence, melancholy describes the film’s tone, emphasizing the emotional impact it had on the audience.
Examples of melancholy in classic literature
Melancholy in classic literature often shows up through big events and societal pressures. In these works, characters react to their situations in ways that lead to intense feelings of sadness and despair.
Below are some examples in which melancholy plays a prominent role in classic literature.
1
“I have lost my mind in the present, and I am haunted by the ghost of the past. Every step I take forward seems to drag me further back into the shadows of what once was.”
– J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
In this example, the protagonist’s melancholy is shown through his feeling of despair as he is trapped between the present and his past traumas.
2
“I felt a sadness that was not just mine, but the sadness of all those who had ever been alone, lost in their own dreams and regrets.”
– Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
In this quote, the narrator expresses a profound sense of melancholy that connects her personal feelings with a universal experience of loneliness and unfulfilled dreams.
3
“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life. I felt I was witnessing the same spectacle from two opposing viewpoints, and it left me feeling profoundly disconnected.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Here, the narrator feels deep melancholy as he navigates America in the 1920s. Words such as “enchanted” and “repelled” reveal his inner conflict about a world that both fascinates and disappoints him.
4
“It was the saddest thing I’d ever seen. It was the silence, the complete, utter silence, where you expect laughter and conversation. The absence of sound felt like a heavy weight, pressing down on everything and making the emptiness even more profound.”
– Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
In this classic, the narrator captures the feeling of melancholy in the courtroom after the highly anticipated verdict. The silence she describes reflects the strong sense of loss and sadness that everyone feels.
Examples of melancholy in modern media
Modern media conveys melancholy through visuals, music, and dialogue, prioritizing subtle, relatable emotions instead of dramatic moments.
Let’s look at some examples of melancholy in modern media.
1
“I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold on to each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end, it’s just too much. The current’s too strong. They’ve got to let go, drift apart.”
– Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
In this novel, children slowly learn they’re being raised to be organ donors. This passage shows one of the central characters conveying a sense of melancholy—a mix of hopelessness and resignation—as she talks about living in this dystopian world.
2
“I think I’m going to miss you even before we say goodbye. It’s strange to feel so close to someone when I know that we’re just moments away from being apart. It’s like I can sense the ending before it even happens, and it makes me feel so sad.”
– Her (film)
In this film, Theodore is a lonely man who falls in love with an artificial intelligence called Samantha. The film uses music to create a melancholy atmosphere as Theodore anticipates the sadness he’ll feel once Samantha is no longer in his life.
3
“He had looked at Willem and realized, in that instant, how alone he was. He had never been able to make someone else feel the way Willem made him feel—safe, understood, loved—and he was grateful, and ashamed, and sad, all at once.”
– Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life
The novel uses the main character’s interactions with his friends to create a strong feeling of melancholy. Through their conversations, readers see his struggles and how his past pain affects every aspect of his life.
4
“I can’t even tell you what I’m feeling. I feel like I’m not even here, like I’m just floating.”
– Lost in Translation (film)
The film’s two main characters drift through life, feeling disconnected from their surroundings and themselves. Their late-night conversations reveal their loneliness and desire for deeper connections, highlighting the melancholy feeling of being lost in life.
Melancholy FAQs
What is melancholy?
Melancholy is a reflective state of sadness, often tied to feelings of loss or longing. It’s more than just feeling sad—it involves a deeper contemplation of emotions. This complex feeling shapes characters and stories, inviting the audience to explore the layers of human experience.
How do you pronounce melancholy?
Melancholy is pronounced as “mel-uhn-kol-ee.” The emphasis is on the second syllable, making it sound soft and lyrical.
Synonyms for melancholy
Some synonyms for melancholy are sadness, gloom, and sorrow. These words express similar feelings but usually describe less intense emotions.
Melancholy vs. sad
“Sad” is a basic feeling of unhappiness, while “melancholy” is more reflective and complex. Melancholy often includes feelings of longing or nostalgia, making it a richer emotion than sadness.