The Mask by Guy De Maupassant (1883)
A young man returns to his hometown after a long absence and becomes infatuated with an older woman who is married to a wealthy and influential man. He begins to wear a mask to conceal his true identity, allowing him to pursue her without being recognized. As their affair deepens, the young man's obsession with the woman grows, leading to tragic consequences.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama · 4,040 words
Editions
First lines
There was a fancy-dress ball that evening at the Élysée-Montmartre. It was to celebrate Mid-Lent, and the crowd was pouring, like the water rushing over a weir, down the illuminated corridor that led to the dance room. The overpowering clamour of the orchestra, crashing like a storm of music, split walls and roof, spread abroad through the neighbourhood, and roused in the streets, and even in the nearby houses, the irresistible desire to leap, to be warm and amused, that slumbers in the depths of the human animal.
Similar titles
- A Coward by Guy De Maupassant
- The New Villa by Anton Chekhov
- The Peddler by Guy De Maupassant
- In The Graveyard by Anton Chekhov
- The Mask by Guy De Maupassant
- A Trivial Incident by Anton Chekhov
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of identity, aging, and societal expectations through rich character development and nuanced prose.
- Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of life, focusing on the struggles of an aging performer and the harsh realities of social status.
- Drama — The emotional conflicts and character interactions create a dramatic tension that drives the narrative forward.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms regarding youth, beauty, and the superficiality of social interactions.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Symbolism · Mystery · Suspense · Gothic Fiction · Dark Fantasy · Supernatural Elements · Identity Crisis · Social Commentary
What this Textopian page supports
The Mask is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
- Author: Guy De Maupassant
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama, Social Commentary, Tragedy
- Length: 4,040 words
- Structure: 1 section, 80 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mask 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph