My Landlady by Guy de Maupassant
The story revolves around a young man who rents a room from his landlady, a middle-aged woman with a stern demeanor. He becomes infatuated with her and begins to fantasize about her, imagining that she has romantic feelings for him as well. As the days pass, he becomes increasingly obsessed with her, often finding excuses to visit her in her parlor. However, it is revealed that his landlady is actually a widow who is struggling to make ends meet and is not interested in him romantically. The young man's obsession eventually leads to his downfall as he becomes isolated from the rest of society and loses touch with reality. His fixation on the landlady ultimately destroys his mental health and drives him to madness.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1887 · Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama · 2,847 words
First lines
"At that time," said George Kervelen, "I was living in furnished lodgings in the Rue des Saints-Pères. When my parents decided that I should go to Paris to continue my law studies, there had been a long discussion about settling everything. My allowance had been fixed at first at two thousand five hundred francs, but my poor mother was so anxious, that she said to my father that if I spent my money rashly I might not have enough to eat, and then my health would suffer, and so it was settled that a comfortable boarding-house should be found for me, and that the amount should be paid to the proprietor himself, or herself, every month.
What this Textopian page supports
My Landlady is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Satire, Realism
- Length: 2,847 words
- Structure: 1 section, 57 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for My Landlady by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering My Landlady?
- 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?
Similar titles
- My Landlady by Guy De Maupassant
- The Substitute by Guy De Maupassant
- Beside The Bed by Guy De Maupassant
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is infused with humor, particularly in the protagonist's interactions with the landlady and the awkward situations he finds himself in.
- Romance — The story revolves around romantic and sexual encounters, highlighting the protagonist's pursuit of love and intimacy.
- Drama — The plot includes dramatic elements such as tension, conflict, and emotional exchanges between characters.
- Satire — The story satirizes societal norms and the behavior of young men, using irony and exaggeration to critique social conventions.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Satire · Social Commentary · Domestic Drama · Marriage · Infidelity · Class Conflict · Urban Life · Loneliness