A Madman by Guy De Maupassant (1887)
The story revolves around a young man who becomes obsessed with the idea of being insane. He deliberately acts out erratic behavior to convince others that he has lost his mind. As time passes, he becomes increasingly convinced that he is indeed mad and begins to lose touch with reality. The narrative explores themes of identity, sanity, and the blurred lines between madness and rationality.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1887 · Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 3,270 words
First lines
He died a high-court judge, an upright magistrate whose irreproachable life was held up to honour in every court in France. Barristers, young puisne judges, judges, greeted with a low bow that marked their profound respect, his thin white impressive face, lighted up by two fathomless gleaming eyes.
He had given up his life to the pursuit of crime and the protection of the weak. Swindlers and murderers had had no more formidable enemy, for he seemed to read, in the depths of their souls, their most secret thoughts, and penetrate at a glance the dark twistings of their motives.
What this Textopian page supports
A Madman 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: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 3,270 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Madman by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- The Middle Toe Of The Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce
- A Light Sleeper by Ambrose Bierce
- The Suitable Surroundings by Ambrose Bierce
- The Horrible by Guy De Maupassant
- Who Knows by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Psychological Thriller — The narrative explores the mind of a character who grapples with violent impulses and moral dilemmas, creating a tense psychological atmosphere.
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around murder, the judicial system, and the consequences of crime, central themes in crime fiction.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text delves into existential questions about life, death, and the nature of humanity, characteristic of philosophical literature.
- Gothic Fiction — The themes of madness, death, and the macabre align with elements commonly found in Gothic literature.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · French Literature · Short Story Collection · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Bourgeoisie · Existentialism · Absurdism · Philosophical Fiction · Literary Realism · Gothic Fiction