Always Lock the Door!
The story revolves around a young woman who has been wronged by her lover and seeks revenge through manipulation and deceit. She uses her charm to lure him into a trap, where he ultimately meets his demise. The narrative explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the destructive nature of unchecked emotions.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1865 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Drama · 2,540 words
First lines
The four glasses which were standing in front of the diners were now still nearly half full, which is a sign, as a general rule, that the guests are quite so. They were beginning to speak without waiting for an answer; no one took any notice of anything except what was going on inside him, either in his mind or stomach; voices grew louder, gestures more animated, eyes brighter.
It was a bachelors' dinner of confirmed old bachelors. They had instituted this regular banquet twenty years before, christening it "The Celibate," and at the time there were fourteen of them, all fully determined never to marry. Now there were only four of them left; three were dead and the other seven were married.
What this Textopian page supports
Always Lock the Door! is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1865 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: 1865 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Drama, Romance, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 2,540 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Always Lock the Door! 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 Always Lock the Door!?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and ironic twists, particularly in the depiction of the bachelors' antics and the protagonist's misadventure.
- Satire — The story satirizes the attitudes and behaviors of confirmed bachelors and their views on women, highlighting the absurdity of their misogynistic beliefs.
- Drama — The plot involves personal and social conflicts, particularly the protagonist's internal struggle and the societal expectations of relationships.
- Romance — The narrative revolves around romantic and sexual encounters, focusing on the protagonist's first significant romantic experience.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Short Story · French Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Mystery · Suspense · Crime · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Marriage