Useless Beauty by Guy De Maupassant
The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She becomes disillusioned with her marriage and seeks excitement through various affairs. Her husband's death sets off a chain of events that exposes her true nature, revealing a complex web of deceit and manipulation. The story explores themes of beauty, morality, and the societal pressures placed on women during this time period.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1884 · Genre: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary · 4 chapters · 8,346 words
Editions
First lines
A fashionable victoria, drawn by two magnificent black horses, stood at the doorstep of the mansion. It was about half past five on an evening towards the end of June, and between the gables which fenced the courtyard, gleamed the sky, full of bright light, heat and brilliance.
What this Textopian page supports
Useless Beauty is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1884 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: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Romance, Tragedy
- Length: 8,346 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 221 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Useless Beauty by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Drama — The intense emotional conflict between the characters drives the narrative, focusing on personal relationships and societal expectations.
- Psychological Fiction — The exploration of the characters' inner thoughts and motivations reveals deep psychological struggles, particularly regarding jealousy and identity.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal norms surrounding marriage, motherhood, and gender roles, reflecting on the constraints placed on women.
- Romance — The complex romantic dynamics between the husband and wife highlight themes of love, betrayal, and desire.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Short Story Collection · 19th Century Fiction · Social Commentary · Critique of Bourgeoisie · Existential Themes · Alienation · Loneliness · Disillusionment · Morality · Philosophical