A Family by Guy De Maupassant (1887)
The story revolves around a family's struggles with poverty and the father's descent into madness. The family lives in a small apartment, struggling to make ends meet. The father becomes increasingly unstable, leading to a series of tragic events that ultimately destroy the family.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1887 · Genre: Realism, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary · 2,294 words
First lines
I was on my way to revisit my friend Simon Radevin, whom I had not seen for fifteen years.
Once he had been my best friend, the true guest of my mind, that friend with whom a man spends long evenings, quiet or gay, to whom he tells the intimate secrets of his heart, for whom he finds, talking at ease, rare, delicate, ingenious and exquisite thoughts, born of a mutual sympathy that inspires and releases the mind.
What this Textopian page supports
A Family is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Guy De Maupassant
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Tragedy
- Length: 2,294 words
- Structure: 1 section, 59 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Family by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Family?
- How does this short story by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Family Affair by Guy De Maupassant
- A Daughter Of Eve by Honore De Balzac
- A Mesalliance by Guy De Maupassant
- Mademoiselle by Guy De Maupassant
- Domestic Peace by Honore De Balzac
- Dame Care by Hermann Sudermann
Genres
- Realism — The narrative focuses on the everyday lives and struggles of ordinary characters, depicting their emotions and social interactions in a realistic manner.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the inner thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, exploring themes of friendship, change, and existential reflection.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal norms regarding family, marriage, and the monotony of provincial life, highlighting the contrast between urban and rural experiences.
- Drama — The interactions among characters create tension and emotional depth, particularly in the portrayal of familial relationships and personal disillusionment.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · 19th Century · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Marriage · Infidelity · Morality · Class Conflict · Societal Expectations · Domestic Life