Night by Guy De Maupassant (1862)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his family's estate after being away for several years. He is haunted by the memory of a woman he loved and lost, and struggles with feelings of guilt and regret. As he navigates his relationships with his family members, particularly his mother and sister, it becomes clear that they are all trapped in their own ways, bound by societal expectations and conventions. The young man's inner turmoil is mirrored in the decaying state of the estate, which serves as a symbol for the decay of the aristocracy and the moral bankruptcy of the characters. Throughout the story, themes of love, loss, guilt, and redemption are explored, raising questions about the nature of human relationships and the consequences of one's actions.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1862 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Existential Fiction · 2,323 words
First lines
I love night passionately. I love it as one loves one's country or one's mistress. I love it with all my senses, with my eyes which see it, with my sense of smell which inhales it, with my ears which listen to its silence, with my whole body which is caressed by its shadows. The larks sing in the sunlight, in the blue heavens, in the warm air, in the light air of clear mornings. The owl flies at night, a sombre patch passing through black space, and, rejoicing in the black immensity that intoxicates him, he utters a vibrant and sinister cry.
What this Textopian page supports
Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1862 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: 1862 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Existential Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Romanticism
- Length: 2,323 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Night 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
- An Old Man by Guy De Maupassant
- The Hermit by Guy De Maupassant
- A Night by Vsevolod Garshin
- A Vendetta by Guy De Maupassant
- A Memory by Guy De Maupassant
- Letter Found On A Drowned Man by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep emotional and philosophical themes through a reflective narrative style.
- Psychological Fiction — It delves into the protagonist's inner thoughts and feelings, highlighting their psychological state.
- Existential Fiction — The narrative grapples with themes of existence, isolation, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.
- Gothic Fiction — The atmosphere of darkness, fear, and the unknown contributes to a gothic sensibility.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · Darkness · Isolation · Mental Illness · Paranoia · Guilt · Shame · Obsession · Madness · Tragic · Fate