The Confession by Guy De Maupassant
A young man confesses to a series of murders he committed while under the influence of a rare and intense passion for a woman. He describes his crimes in detail, justifying them as necessary to prove his love. The narrative explores themes of obsession, morality, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1885 · Genre: Drama, Tragedy, Psychological Fiction · 2,196 words
First lines
Marguerite de Thèrelles was dying. Although she was only fifty-six, she looked at least seventy-five. She was gasping, paler than her sheets, shaken with frightful shudders, her face distorted, her eyes haggard, as though they saw some frightful thing.
Her elder sister, Suzanne, six years older, was sobbing on her knees at the bedside. A little table had been drawn up to the dying woman's couch, and on the tablecloth stood two lighted candles, for they were waiting for the priest, who was to administer the extreme unction and the last sacrament.
What this Textopian page supports
The Confession is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1885 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Guy De Maupassant
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 2,196 words
- Structure: 1 section, 47 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Confession 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 The Confession?
- How does this novel by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Dead Womans Secret by Guy De Maupassant
- The Assassin by Guy De Maupassant
- The Confession by Guy De Maupassant
- Old Bonifaces Crime by Guy De Maupassant
- Beside A Dead Man by Guy De Maupassant
- What Timmy Did by Marie Belloc Lowndes
Genres
- Drama — The intense emotional conflict and character interactions drive the narrative, focusing on themes of love, sacrifice, and guilt.
- Tragedy — The story explores tragic elements, including the consequences of jealousy and the irreversible impact of past actions on relationships.
- Psychological Fiction — The internal struggles and psychological torment of the characters, particularly Marguerite, are central to the plot.
- Literary Fiction — The work emphasizes character development and thematic depth, characteristic of literary fiction.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Crime Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · 19th Century Literature · Realism · Naturalism · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Morality Tale