Someone mean is mean or miserable.
Ruin is an adjective used to describe people, events or situations that have unworthy or infamous characteristics . The qualification of something or someone as mean is always negative .
In order to fully enter into establishing the meaning of the term, it is necessary to know its etymological origin. In this sense, we can determine that it derives from the Latin ruere , which can be translated as "to collapse" or "to precipitate."
For example: "I'm not going to do business with someone as mean as Mr. Brollocket," "You're a mean woman!" "I'm not going to spend another second with you in this house," "Stealing a child's pet is a mean and unintelligible act."
concept of ruin
The base is associated with that which is despicable, ignominious, miserable or mean ; Therefore, what is vile deserves to be repudiated and condemned. Suppose that a group of vandals enters a school located in a poor neighborhood and sets the facilities on fire. Many may describe the action as cruel, since it deprives children without resources of the possibility of continuing with their studies.
There are countless behaviors that can be classified as mean: mistreating an animal, making anti-Semitic graffiti, hitting an elderly person or discriminating against a disabled person are just a few examples.
The mean person, therefore, is the one who performs this type of actions. In general, the concept is associated with behaviors that have no explanation from logic or morality . It is understood that stealing is bad and reprehensible; But if the thief also breaks what he does not take only out of evil , he will be called someone mean. Someone can explain or justify a theft due to social conditions, but not the generation of damage without any kind of meaning.
Ebenezer Scrooge, the protagonist of "A Christmas Carol", is a mean man.
The concept in literature
Within the field of literature, there are many characters who have gained prominence and who are remembered precisely for their mean attitude and behavior . A clear example of this is found in the work "The Miser" ( 1668 ), by Moliére . It is a theatrical play in a comedy style that revolves around the figure of Harpagon , a man who shows good examples of the extreme greed that identifies him.
Another example of villainous characters is found in the story "A Christmas Carol" ( 1843 ). This short novel by the English writer Charles Dickens has become a classic of universal literature. Its central character is Ebenezer Scrooge , a sullen, mean, very miserly and truly selfish man who treats his employees mercilessly, who despises everyone and who is only motivated by money.
However, everything will change for him one night in which three ghosts will appear to him (the one from the past, the one from the present and the one from the future), who will try to make him change, to show respect and humanity for others, to leave aside materialism and to bet more on solidarity and tolerance.