A Night in Whitechapel
The story revolves around a young woman who lives with her aunt and uncle in a small town. She becomes infatuated with a wealthy man who has recently moved into the neighborhood. The woman's obsession with the man grows, and she begins to neglect her duties and relationships with those around her. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the woman's fixation on the man is not reciprocated. He is portrayed as being dismissive and uninterested in her affections. Despite this, the woman continues to pursue him, eventually leading to a tragic confrontation. The narrative explores themes of love, obsession, and social class, highlighting the dangers of unchecked desire and the consequences of pursuing something that is ultimately unattainable.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1888 · Genre: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Mystery · 2,703 words
First lines
My friend Ledantec and I were twenty-five and we had come to London for the first time in our lives. It was a Saturday evening in December, cold and foggy, and I think that all that combined is more than enough to explain why my friend Ledantec and I were most abominably drunk, though, to tell the truth, we did not feel any discomfort from it. On the contrary, we were floating in an atmosphere of perfect bliss. We did not speak, certainly, for we were incapable of doing so, but then we had no inclination for conversation. What would be the good of it? We could so easily read all our thoughts in each others eyes! And all our thoughts consisted in the sweet and unique knowledge, that we were thinking about nothing whatever.
What this Textopian page supports
A Night in Whitechapel is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Gothic
- Length: 2,703 words
- Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Night in Whitechapel by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Night in Whitechapel?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Uttermost Farthing by Marie Belloc Lowndes
- The Eyes Of The Panther by Ambrose Bierce
- The Confession Of A Murderer by O. Henry
- The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill
- St Catherines Eve by Marie Belloc Lowndes
- The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Horror — The story features unsettling and eerie elements, such as the spectral appearance of the woman and the strange children, creating a sense of dread and fear.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological states of the characters, particularly their drunken hallucinations and the resulting confusion and horror.
- Mystery — The story involves a mysterious encounter with a woman whose appearance and circumstances are puzzling, leading to a sense of intrigue.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and exploration of themes such as perception, reality, and the effects of alcohol align with literary fiction.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Crime Fiction · Short Story · Literary Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Dark · Gothic · Atmospheric · Suspenseful · Tense · Violent