Mother Sauvage by Guy de Maupassant
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her family's estate after being abandoned by her lover. She seeks revenge against the man who wronged her but ultimately finds herself consumed by her own desire for vengeance, leading to a tragic outcome. The narrative explores themes of love, betrayal, and the destructive nature of unchecked emotions.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1874 · Genre: Realism, Tragedy, War Fiction · 3,013 words
Editions
First lines
Fifteen years had passed since I was at Virelogne. I returned there in the autumn to shoot with my friend Serval, who had at last rebuilt his chateau, which the Prussians had destroyed.
What this Textopian page supports
Mother Sauvage is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1874 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: 1874 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Tragedy, War Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 3,013 words
- Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mother Sauvage 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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Similar titles
- A Fathers Confession by Guy De Maupassant
- The Child by Guy De Maupassant
- A Coward by Guy De Maupassant
- Mother And Son by Guy De Maupassant
- The Baroness by Guy De Maupassant
- Regret by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Realism — The story provides a detailed and unembellished depiction of rural life and the impact of war on ordinary people, characteristic of the realist genre.
- Tragedy — The narrative centers around the tragic loss of a son and the subsequent revenge by the mother, leading to further death and destruction.
- War Fiction — The backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War and its effects on the characters and setting are central to the plot.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the psychological transformation of the protagonist from a grieving mother to a vengeful figure.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · Short Story · Literary Classic · Existential Crisis · Mother-Son Relationship · Family Dynamics · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Philosophical Themes · Human Nature