A Woman's Confession

Name: A Woman's Confession
Author: Guy De Maupassant

The story revolves around a woman who confesses to her husband that she has been unfaithful to him. She reveals the details of her affair and justifies her actions by explaining how it was a way for her to escape the monotony of her marriage and find excitement in life. The woman's confession is not motivated by guilt or remorse, but rather by a desire to be honest with herself and her husband about her true nature. She believes that honesty is the key to a healthy relationship and that her husband should know the truth about her infidelity. Throughout the story, the woman's narrative is presented as a rational and logical explanation of her actions, which challenges the traditional notion of marriage and fidelity. The story raises questions about the nature of love, relationships, and morality, leaving the reader to ponder the implications of the woman's confession.

By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Romance · 1,920 words

First lines

You ask me to tell you about the most vivid recollections of my life. I am very old and have neither children nor relatives, and am therefore free to confide in you. Only promise that you will never reveal my name. As you know, I have been very much loved and have myself often loved in return. I was very beautiful; I may say so now that nothing remains of my beauty. To me love was the life of the soul just as air is the life of the body. I would rather have died than lived without affection, without being the constant subject of someone's thought. Women often pretend that they only love once with all the strength of their feelings; I have often been so desperately in love that it was impossible to think that it could ever end, but the feeling always died out quite naturally, like a fire that lacks fuel. Today I will tell you my first adventure, a quite innocent one so far as I was concerned, but it led to others. The terrible revenge of that dreadful chemist of Pecq reminds me of the appalling drama I witnessed much against my will.

What this Textopian page supports

A Woman's Confession is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Romance, Drama, Gothic Fiction
Length: 1,920 words
Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of love, betrayal, and societal expectations through a nuanced narrative style.
Psychological Fiction — The protagonist's internal conflicts and emotional turmoil are central to the plot, delving into the psyche of love and desire.
Romance — Romantic relationships and the nature of love are pivotal to the story, highlighting both passionate and unfulfilled desires.
Drama — The narrative contains intense emotional situations and conflicts that drive the plot forward.