The Bed by Guy De Maupassant (1883)
The story revolves around a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover and is left alone with her child. She becomes obsessed with the idea of revenge against her former lover and begins to plot his downfall. As she waits for him to return, she starts to notice strange occurrences in her life that seem to be connected to her obsession. Her child falls ill, and she believes it's a result of her own guilt and anxiety. The woman's fixation on revenge ultimately leads to tragic consequences, both for herself and those around her.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Realism · 1,632 words
First lines
On a stifling afternoon during last summer, the large auction rooms seemed asleep, and the auctioneers were knocking down the various lots in a listless manner. In a back room, on the first floor, two or three lots of all silk ecclesiastical vestments were lying in a corner.
What this Textopian page supports
The Bed 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: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Realism, Romance, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 1,632 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bed 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
- The Bed by Guy De Maupassant
- The Rendezvous by Guy De Maupassant
- The Kiss by Guy De Maupassant
- Moonlight by Guy De Maupassant
- Blue And White by Guy De Maupassant
- The Christening by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of life, love, and mortality through a reflective narrative style.
- Philosophical Fiction — It delves into existential themes, contemplating the significance of the bed as a metaphor for life experiences.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of human emotions and experiences associated with the bed.
- Romance — It includes elements of love and intimacy, highlighting romantic encounters that occur within the context of the bed.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Symbolism · Marriage · Infidelity · Desire · Sexuality · Social Class · Middle Class · Parisian Life