Final answer:
The term 'heartache' can reflect both physical and emotional suffering in literature, symbolizing a range of human experiences from hunger to grief. Literary excerpts often use heartache metaphorically to express profound emotions or experiences, while physical descriptions can indicate real medical conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression of a 'heartache' can denote a variety of experiences ranging from physical pain to emotional suffering. Literature often uses this term to convey the protagonists' inner turmoil, whether it is from loss, love, or other profound sentiments. The excerpts provided suggest a thematic concern with this form of anguish across different narratives and characters, underscoring how such pain is a universal aspect of the human condition.
For instance, a pain described as a 'dull ache' or 'gnawing' can indicate the sensation of hunger, but when used metaphorically, it could also symbolize an emotional yearning or a deeper existential discomfort. In other contexts, like 'My Captain does not answer,' the 'heartache' might be the emotional pain of loss or grief.
Additionally, phrases like 'pins-and-needles feeling' and descriptions of physical wounds or ailments also reflect the physical representations of a heartache, which might stem from genuine medical issues demanding immediate attention. In the physical sense, these symptoms could be indicative of conditions that should be assessed by healthcare professionals. Whether it is the physical pang of hunger felt on the left side or the emotional strain of bearing a 'hoary anguish,' the concept of heartache is a compelling subject that resonates deeply in literature and life.