Mademoiselle by Guy de Maupassant
The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who lives with her aunt and uncle in Paris. She is beautiful, charming, and intelligent but also naive and innocent. The story explores themes of love, morality, and social class through the protagonist's relationships with various men, including a wealthy and older suitor and a younger artist.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1885 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama · 2,213 words
First lines
He had been registered under the names of Jean Marie Mathieu Valot, but he was never called anything but _Mademoiselle_. He was the idiot of the district, but not one of those wretched, ragged idiots who live on public charity. He lived comfortably on a small income which his mother had left him, and which his guardian paid him regularly, and so he was rather envied than pitied. And then, he was not one of those idiots with wild looks, and the manners of an animal, for he was by no means an unpleasing object, with his half-open lips and smiling eyes, and especially in his constant make-up in female dress. For he dressed like a girl, and showed by that, how little he objected to being called _Mademoiselle_.
What this Textopian page supports
Mademoiselle is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1885 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: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Tragedy, Realism
- Length: 2,213 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mademoiselle 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 Mademoiselle?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Psychological Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Legacy by Guy De Maupassant
- A Divorce Case by Guy De Maupassant
- In Trouble by Anton Chekhov
- A Family by Guy De Maupassant
- Monsieur Parent by Guy De Maupassant
- Duchoux by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Psychological Fiction — Explores the inner life and identity struggles of the protagonist, focusing on his mental state and societal perceptions.
- Social Commentary — Critiques societal norms and attitudes towards gender identity and mental health.
- Drama — Centers on the emotional and social conflicts faced by the protagonist, with a focus on personal and societal drama.
- Tragedy — Depicts the protagonist's tragic struggle with identity and societal rejection, leading to a dramatic and unfortunate outcome.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Psychological Fiction · Short Story Collection · 19th Century · Social Commentary · Marriage · Infidelity · Love Triangle · Class Conflict · Morality · Moral Ambiguity