Farewell by Guy De Maupassant (1882)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He is met with indifference and hostility by the townspeople, who are suspicious of his intentions and resentful of his past actions. As he navigates the complexities of small-town life, he becomes increasingly isolated and disillusioned with the hypocrisy and superficiality of those around him. The narrative explores themes of alienation, social class, and the constraints of provincial life.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1882 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Romance · 2,036 words
Editions
First lines
The two friends were finishing dinner. From the café window they saw the boulevard, covered with people. They felt the caress of the warm airs that drift through Paris on calm summer nights, making a man raise his eyes towards the passersby, rousing in him a desire to get away, far away to some distant place, no one knows where, under green leaves; making him dream of moonlit rivers and glowworms and nightingales.
One of the two, Henri Simon, sighing deeply, said:
What this Textopian page supports
Farewell is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1882 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: 1882 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 2,036 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Farewell 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
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- Tristitae by Oscar Wilde
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- La Tristesse by Marjorie Pickthall
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- Melancholy by Edward Thomas
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of aging, memory, and the passage of time, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of life, relationships, and the inevitable changes that come with aging.
- Romance — The protagonist's past love and emotional connection to a woman highlight romantic themes.
- Psychological Fiction — The internal reflections and emotional turmoil of the characters delve into psychological aspects of human experience.
Tags
Tragic · Melancholic · Romantic · Bittersweet · Poignant · Emotional · Introspective · Psychological · Literary · Classic · French · Realistic