Suicides by Guy De Maupassant (1883)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He becomes infatuated with a woman and begins an affair with her. However, the relationship ends abruptly when she marries another man. The protagonist's obsession with the woman leads him to become increasingly isolated and withdrawn. He eventually takes his own life by shooting himself in front of a group of people at a train station.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Tragedy · 2,232 words
Editions
First lines
Hardly a day goes by without our reading in some newspaper the following paragraph.
"On Wednesday night the people living in No. 40 Rue de -- -- -, were awakened by two shots in succession. They seemed to come from the apartment occupied by M. X. -- -- . The door was broken in and the man was found bathed in his blood, still holding in one hand the revolver with which he had taken his life. / "M. X. -- -- - was fifty-seven years of age, enjoying a comfortable income, and had everything necessary to make him happy. No cause can be found for his action. "
What this Textopian page supports
Suicides 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, Literary Fiction, Tragedy, Philosophical Fiction, Realism
- Length: 2,232 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Suicides 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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Genres
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves deeply into the mental state and emotional turmoil of the protagonist, exploring themes of despair, loneliness, and existential crisis.
- Literary Fiction — The work emphasizes character development and thematic depth, focusing on the intricacies of human experience and the search for meaning.
- Tragedy — The story culminates in a tragic end, highlighting the profound suffering and hopelessness that lead to the protagonist's decision to end his life.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text engages with philosophical questions about the nature of existence, happiness, and the human condition, prompting reflection on life's meaning.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · 19th Century · Short Story Collection · Dark Humor · Social Commentary · Critique of Bourgeoisie · Existential Crisis · Mental Health · Suicide as Theme · Morality