The Man with the Blue Eyes
The story revolves around a young man who becomes infatuated with an older woman after seeing her at a ball. He begins to pursue her, but she rejects him multiple times. Despite this, he continues to try and win her over, eventually succeeding in seducing her. However, the woman's husband is not aware of their affair and the young man feels guilty about deceiving him. The story explores themes of love, deception, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative is written in a style that reflects the societal norms of the time period, highlighting the double standards and hypocrisy that existed during this era.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Crime · 2,093 words
First lines
Monsieur Pierre Agenor de Vargnes, the Examining Magistrate, was the exact opposite of a practical joker. He was dignity, staidness, correctness personified. As a sedate man, he was quite incapable of being guilty, even in his dreams, of anything resembling a practical joke, however remotely. I know nobody to whom he could be compared, unless it be the present president of the French Republic. I think it is useless to carry the analogy any further, and having said thus much, it will be easily understood that a cold shiver passed through me when Monsieur Pierre Agenor de Vargnes did me the honor of sending a lady to wait on me.
What this Textopian page supports
The Man with the Blue Eyes 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: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Horror, Drama
- Length: 2,093 words
- Structure: 1 section, 35 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Man with the Blue Eyes 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 Man with the Blue Eyes?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Mystery — The narrative revolves around a mysterious figure with enigmatic blue eyes and a cryptic letter, creating an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue.
- Psychological Thriller — The story delves into the psychological aspects of crime, guilt, and the compulsion to confess, exploring the mind of a potential criminal.
- Crime — The plot involves the investigation of possible crimes committed by a character who may have used medical knowledge to commit murder.
- Horror — The unsettling presence of the man with blue eyes and the implied malevolence contribute to a sense of horror.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Symbolism · Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Gothic · Atmosphere · Isolation · Loneliness