Magnetism by Guy de Maupassant
The story revolves around a young woman who becomes infatuated with a man she meets at a seaside resort. As their relationship deepens, her obsession grows, and she begins to exhibit erratic behavior. The narrative explores the complexities of human emotions and the destructive power of unchecked desire.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 1,779 words
Editions
First lines
It was a men's dinner party, and they were sitting over their cigars and brandy and discussing magnetism. Donato's tricks and Charcot's experiments. Presently, the sceptical, easy-going men, who cared nothing for religion of any sort, began telling stories of strange occurrences, incredible things which, nevertheless, had really occurred, so they said, falling back into superstitious beliefs, clinging to these last remnants of the marvellous, becoming devotees of this mystery of magnetism, defending it in the name of science. There was only one person who smiled, a vigorous young fellow, a great ladies' man who was so incredulous that he would not even enter upon a discussion of such matters.
What this Textopian page supports
Magnetism 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: Psychological Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Short Story, Realist Fiction
- Length: 1,779 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Magnetism 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
Similar titles
- A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert
- Strong As Death by Guy De Maupassant
- A Story For Men by O. Henry
- Farewell by Guy De Maupassant
- Waiter A Bock by Guy De Maupassant
- My Uncle Sosthene by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Psychological Fiction — Explores the psychological effects of magnetism and belief on individuals.
- Supernatural Fiction — Involves themes of unexplained phenomena and telepathic communication.
- Philosophical Fiction — Engages in discussions about belief, skepticism, and the nature of reality.
- Short Story — Structured as a concise narrative with a focus on a singular theme.
Tags
French literature · Short story collection · Realism · Psychological insight · Social commentary · Human nature · Emotional depth · Philosophical themes · Existential crisis · Moral ambiguity · Character study · Irony