The Moribund by Guy de Maupassant
A young woman's life unravels after she becomes infatuated with a man who is already engaged to be married. Her obsession leads her down a path of destruction and despair.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1887 · Genre: Realism, Tragedy, Satire · 2,983 words
First lines
The warm autumn sun was beating down on the farmyard. Under the grass, which had been cropped close by the cows, the earth soaked by recent rains, was soft and sank in under the feet with a soggy noise, and the apple trees, loaded with apples, were dropping their pale green fruit in the dark green grass.
Four young heifers, tied in a line, were grazing and at times looking toward the house and lowing. The fowls made a colored patch on the dung-heap before the stable, scratching, moving about and cackling, while two roosters crowed continually, digging worms for their hens, whom they were calling with a loud clucking.
What this Textopian page supports
The Moribund is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Tragedy, Satire, Drama
- Length: 2,983 words
- Structure: 1 section, 105 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Moribund by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Genres
- Realism — The narrative focuses on the everyday life and struggles of rural peasants, depicting their mundane routines and pragmatic attitudes towards death.
- Tragedy — The story revolves around the death of a family member, highlighting the inevitability of death and the emotional detachment of the characters.
- Satire — The portrayal of the characters' practical concerns over the death and funeral arrangements serves as a critique of human nature and societal norms.
- Drama — The tension and emotional undercurrents surrounding the impending death create a dramatic atmosphere, despite the characters' stoic demeanor.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · Short Story Collection · Existential Themes · Philosophical Fiction · Human Nature · Mortality · Decay · Despair · Isolation · Loneliness