My Uncle Sosthène by Guy de Maupassant
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his family's estate after being away for several years. He is met with indifference by his relatives and struggles to find his place within the family. The narrative explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1882 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary · 3,116 words
Editions
First lines
My uncle Sosthène was a freethinker, like many others, a freethinker from sheer stupidity. People are very often religious for the same reason. The mere sight of a priest threw him into a violent rage; he would shake his fist and grimace at him, and touch a piece of iron when the priest's back was turned, forgetting that the latter action showed a belief after all, the belief in the evil eye.
Similar titles
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Genres
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique religious and social institutions, particularly freemasonry and organized religion.
- Comedy — The story contains humorous situations and character interactions, especially in the depiction of the uncle's antics and the narrator's prank.
- Social Commentary — The text explores themes of belief, hypocrisy, and societal norms, offering a critique of both religious and secular ideologies.
- Drama — The plot involves personal conflict and transformation, particularly in the uncle's unexpected conversion and its consequences.
Tags
French Literature · Short Story Collection · Realism · Psychological Insight · Family Dynamics · Social Commentary · Satire · Dark Humor · Morbid Fascination · Uncle-Niece Relationship · Coming of Age · Nostalgia
What this Textopian page supports
My Uncle Sosthène 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: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary, Drama, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 3,116 words
- Structure: 1 section, 77 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for My Uncle Sosthène by Guy de Maupassant
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