,! ,WORKS ( ,GUY ,DE ,MAUPASSANT 

#ahid 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,LEO ,WI5] 

,TEXT 3 

,IT WAS1 ,I ?9K1 9 ! YE> #ahha ?AT ,TURG5EV1 DUR+ A  VISIT AT MY H\SE1 TOOK A ,FR5* NOVEL1 UND] ! NAME ( ,MAISON ,TELLI]1 \T ( HIS SAT*EL & GAVE IT TO ME4 ,?AT'S IT6 

0,READ IT1 IF Y\ HAVE A *ANCE10 HE SAID1 APP>5TLY ) 
9DIFF]5CE1 JU/ AS ! YE> BE=E HE HAD H&$ ME A NUMB] ( 
! ,RUSSIAN ,WEAL?1 9 :I* !RE WAS AN >TICLE BY ,G>%91 :O 
WAS MAK+ HIS DEBUT4  ,EVID5TLY1 AS 9 ! CASE ( ,G>%91 SO 
EV5 N[1 HE WAS AFRAID HE MI<T 9FLU5CE ME 9 ONE WAY OR 
ANO!R1 & WI%$ TO KN[ MY UN9FLU5C$ OP9ION4 

0,HE IS A Y\NG ,FR5* AU?OR10 HE SAID2 0LOOK AT IT1 - IT IS 
NOT BAD2 HE KN[S Y\ & E/EEMS Y\ V]Y MU*10 HE ADD$1 AS 
?\< TO 5C\RAGE ME4  0,AS A MAN HE REM9DS ME ( ,DRUZH994  ,HE 
IS JU/ AS EXCELL5T A SON & FRI5D1 UN HOMME D'UN COMM]CE SUR1 AS WAS ,DRUZH991 &1 BESIDES1 HE HAS RELATIONS ) ! 
LABOR+ PEOPLE1 :OM HE GUIDES & AIDS4  ,EV5 9 HIS RELATIONS 
TO WOM5 HE REM9DS ME ( ,DRUZH9940 

,& ,TURG5EV TOLD ME SOME?+ REM>KABLE & 9CR$IBLE 9 
REG>D TO ,MAUPASSANT'S RELATIONS 9 ?IS RESPECT4 

,?IS TIME1 ! YE> #a#h#h#a1 WAS = ME ! MO/ >D5T TIME ( 
! 9N] RECON/RUCTION ( MY :OLE WORLD-CONCEPTION1 & 9 ?IS 
RECON/RUCTION ! ACTIVITY :I* IS CALL$ >TI/IC1 & TO :I* 
,I =M]LY US$ TO DEVOTE ALL MY /R5G?1 NOT ONLY LO/ = ME ! 
SIGNIFICANCE =M]LY ASCRIB$ TO IT1 BUT EV5 BECAME DI/9CTLY 
DI/A/EFUL TO ME ON ACC\NT ( ! IMPROP] PLACE :I* IT HAD 
OCCUPI$ 9 MY LIFE & :I* 9 G5]AL IT OCCUPIES 9 ! 
CONCEPTS ( ! M5 ( ! WEAL?Y CLASSES4 

,= ?IS REASON ,I WAS AT ?AT TIME NOT 9 ! LEA/ 9T]E/$ 
9 SU* PRODUCTIONS AS ! ONE :I* ,TURG5EV RECOMM5D$ TO ME4  
,BUT1 TO OBLIGE HIM1 ,I READ ! BOOK :I* HE GAVE ME4 

,JUDG+ FROM ! FIR/ /ORY1 ,MAISON ,TELLI]1 ,I C\LD NOT 
HELP BUT SEE1 9 SPITE ( ! 9DEC5T & 9SIGNIFICANT SUBJECT ( 
! /ORY1 ?AT ! AU?OR POSSESS$ :AT IS CALL$ TAL5T4 

,! AU?OR WAS 5D[$ ) ?AT P>TICUL> GIFT1 CALL$ 
TAL5T1 :I* CONSI/S 9 ! AU?OR'S ABILITY TO DIRECT1 ACCORD+ 
TO HIS TA/ES1 HIS 9T5SIFI$1 /RA9$ ATT5TION TO ?IS OR ?AT 
SUBJECT1 9 CONSEQU5CE ( :I* ! AU?OR :O IS 5D[$ ) 
?IS ABILITY SEES 9 ?OSE SUBJECTS UPON :I* HE DIRECTS HIS 
ATT5TION1 SOME?+ NEW1 SOME?+ :I* O!RS DID NOT SEE4  
,MAUPASSANT EVID5TLY POSSESS$ ?AT GIFT ( SEE+ 9 SUBJECTS 
SOME?+ :I* O!RS DID NOT SEE4  ,BUT1 TO JUDGE FROM ! SMALL 
VOLUME :I* ,I HAD READ1 HE WAS DEVOID ( ! *IEF CONDITION 
NECESS>Y1 BESIDES TAL5T1 = A TRULY >TI/IC PRODUCTION4   

,( ! ?REE CONDITIONS3  

A CORRECT1 ?AT IS1 A MORAL RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO ! SUBJECT1 
! CLE>NESS ( EXPOSITION1 OR ! BEAUTY ( =M1 :I* IS ! SAME1 & 
S9C]ITY1 ?AT IS1 AN UNDISGUIS$ FEEL+ ( LOVE OR HATR$ = :AT ! >TI/ DESCRIBES 

,MAUPASSANT POSSESS$ ONLY ! LA/ TWO1 & WAS 
5TIRELY DEVOID ( ! FIR/4  ,HE HAD NO CORRECT1 ?AT IS1 NO MORAL 
RELATION TO ! SUBJECTS DESCRIB$4  ,FROM :AT ,I HAD READ1 ,I WAS 
CONV9C$ ?AT ,MAUPASSANT POSSESS$ TAL5T1 ?AT IS1 ! GIFT ( 
ATT5TION1 :I* 9 ! OBJECTS & PH5OM5A ( LIFE REVEAL$ TO 
HIM ?OSE QUALITIES :I* >E NOT VISIBLE TO O!R M52 HE ALSO 
POSSESS$ A BEAUTIFUL =M1 ?AT IS1 HE EXPRESS$ CLE>LY1 SIMPLY1 
& BEAUTIFULLY :AT HE WI%$ TO SAY1 & ALSO POSSESS$ ?AT 
CONDITION ( ! WOR? ( AN >TI/IC PRODUCTION1 )\T :I* IT 
DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY EFFECT1 -- S9C]ITY1 -- ?AT IS1 HE DID NOT 
SIMULATE LOVE OR HATR$1 BUT ACTUALLY LOV$ & HAT$ :AT HE 
DESCRIB$4 ,BUT UN=TUNATELY1 BE+ DEVOID ( ! FIR/1 ALMO/ ! 
MO/ IMPORTANT CONDITION ( ! WOR? ( AN >TI/IC PRODUCTION1 ( 
! CORRECT1 MORAL RELATION TO :AT HE REPRES5T$1 ?AT IS1 ( ! 
KN[L$GE ( ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 GOOD & EVIL1 HE LOV$ & 
REPRES5T$ :AT IT WAS NOT RI<T TO LOVE & REPRES5T1 & DID 
NOT LOVE & DID NOT REPRES5T :AT HE \<T TO HAVE LOV$ & 
REPRES5T$4  ,?US ! AU?OR 9 ?IS LITTLE VOLUME DESCRIBES ) 
MU* DETAIL & LOVE H[ WOM5 TEMPT M5 & M5 TEMPT WOM51 & 
EV5 SOME 9COMPREH5SIBLE OBSC5ITIES1 :I* >E REPRES5T$ 9 ,LA ,FEMME DE ,PAUL1 & HE DESCRIBES ! LABOR+ C\NTRY PEOPLE1 
NOT ONLY ) 9DIFF]5CE1 BUT EV5 ) CONTEMPT1 AS SO MANY 
ANIMALS4 

,P>TICUL>LY /RIK+ WAS ?AT LACK ( DI/9CTION BETWE5 BAD 
& GOOD 9 ! /ORY ,UNE ,P>TIE DE ,CAMPAGNE1 9 :I*1 9 ! 
=M ( A MO/ CLEV] & AMUS+ JE/1 HE GIVES A DETAIL$ ACC\NT 
( H[ TWO G5TLEM5 ) B>$ >MS1 R[+ 9 A BOAT1 
SIMULTANE\SLY TEMPT$1 ! ONE AN OLD MO!R1 & ! O!R A 
Y\NG MAID51 H] DAU<T]4 

,! AU?OR'S SYMPA?Y IS DUR+ ! :OLE TIME OBVI\SLY TO 
SU* AN EXT5T ON ! SIDE ( ! TWO RASCALS1 ?AT HE IGNORES1 OR1 
RA!R1 DOES NOT SEE :AT ! TEMPT$ MO!R1 ! GIRL1 ! FA!R1 
& ! Y\NG MAN1 EVID5TLY ! FIANCE ( ! DAU<T]1 MU/ HAVE 
SUFF]$1 & SO WE NOT ONLY GET A %OCK+ DESCRIPTION ( A 
DISGU/+ CRIME 9 ! =M ( AN AMUS+ JE/1 BUT ! EV5T 
ITSELF IS DESCRIB$ FALSELY1 BECAUSE ONLY ! MO/ 9SIGNIFICANT 
SIDE ( ! SUBJECT1 ! PLEASURE AF=D$ TO ! RASCALS1 IS 
DESCRIB$4 

,9 ! SAME VOLUME !RE IS A /ORY1 ,HI/OIRE D'UNE ,FILLE DE ,F]ME1 :I* ,TURG5EV RECOMM5D$ TO ME MORE P>TICUL>LY1 & 
:I* MORE P>TICUL>LY DISPLEAS$ ME ON ACC\NT ( ! AU?OR'S 
9CORRECT RELATION TO ! SUBJECT4  ,! AU?OR APP>5TLY SEES 9 
ALL ! WORK+ PEOPLE :OM HE DESCRIBES NO?+ BUT ANIMALS1 :O 
DO NOT RISE ABOVE SEXUAL & MAT]NAL LOVE1 & SO ! DESCRIPTION 
LEAVES US ) AN 9COMPLETE1 >TIFICIAL IMPRESSION4 

,! 9SUFFICI5T COMPREH5SION ( ! LIVES & 9T]E/S ( 
! WORK+ CLASSES1 & ! REPRES5TATION ( ! M5 FROM ?OSE 
CLASSES 9 ! =M ( HALF-ANIMALS1 :I* >E MOV$ ONLY BY 
S5SUALITY1 MALICE1 & GRE$1 =MS ONE ( ! *IEF & MO/ 
IMPORTANT DEFECTS ( ! MAJORITY ( ! MOD]N ,FR5* AU?ORS1 
AMONG !M ,MAUPASSANT1 NOT ONLY 9 ?IS /ORY1 BUT ALSO 9 ALL ! 
O!R /ORIES1 9 :I* HE T\*ES ON ! PEOPLE & ALWAYS 
DESCRIBES !M AS CO>SE1 DULL ANIMALS1 :OM ONE CAN ONLY RIDICULE4  
,( C\RSE1 ! ,FR5* AU?ORS MU/ KN[ ! CONDITIONS ( !IR 
PEOPLE BETT] ?AN ,I KN[ !M2 BUT1 AL?\< ,I AM A ,RUSSIAN & 
HAVE NOT LIV$ ) ! ,FR5* PEOPLE1 ,I NONE ! LESS ASS]T ?AT1 
9 DESCRIB+ !IR MASSES1 ! ,FR5* AU?ORS >E WRONG1 & ?AT 
! ,FR5* MASSES CANNOT BE AS !Y >E DESCRIB$4  ,IF !RE EXI/S 
A ,FRANCE AS WE KN[ IT1 ) H] TRULY GREAT M5 & ) ?OSE 
GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS :I* !SE GREAT M5 HAVE MADE TO SCI5CE1 
>T1 CIVIL POLITY1 & ! MORAL P]FECTION ( HUMANITY1 ?OSE 
LABOR+ MASSES1 :I* HAVE HELD UPON !IR %\LD]S ?IS ,FRANCE 
& H] GREAT M51 DO NOT CONSI/ ( ANIMALS1 BUT ( M5 ) GREAT 
SPIRITUAL QUALITIES2 & SO ,I DO NOT BELIEVE :AT ,I AM TOLD 9 
NOVELS LIKE ,LA ,T]RE1 & 9 ,MAUPASSANT'S /ORIES1 JU/ AS ,I 
%\LD NOT BELIEVE IF ,I W]E TOLD ( ! EXI/5CE ( A BEAUTIFUL 
H\SE /&+ ON NO F\NDATION4  ,IT IS V]Y POSSIBLE ?AT ! HI< 
QUALITIES ( ! MASSES >E NOT SU* AS >E DESCRIB$ 9 ,LA PETIT ,FADETTE & 9 ,LA ,M>E AU ,DIABLE1 BUT !SE QUALITIES EXI/1 
?AT ,I KN[ = C]TA91 & ! WRIT] :O DESCRIBES ! MASSES1 
AS ,MAUPASSANT DOES1 BY TELL+ SYMPA!TICALLY ( ! 0HAN*ES0 & 
0GORGES0 ( ,BRETON DOME/ICS1 & ) CONTEMPT & RIDICULE ! 
LIFE ( ! LABOR+ PEOPLE1 COMMITS A GREAT ]ROR 9 AN >TI/IC 
S5SE1 BECAUSE HE DESCRIBES ! SUBJECT FROM ONLY ONE1 ! MO/ 
UN9T]E/+1 PHYSICAL SIDE1 & COMPLETELY OV]LOOKS ! O!R1 
! MO/ IMPORTANT1 SPIRITUAL SIDE1 :I* =MS ! ESS5CE ( ! 
SUBJECT4 

,9 G5]AL1 ! READ+ ( ! VOLUME :I* ,TURG5EV GAVE ME 
LEFT ME COMPLETELY 9DIFF]5T TO ! Y\NG WRIT]4 

,I WAS AT ?AT TIME SO DISGU/$ ) ! /ORIES1 ,UNE ,P>TIE DE ,CAMPAGNE1 ,LA ,FEMME DE ,PAUL1 & ,L',HI/OIRE D'UNE ,FILLE DE ,F]ME1 ?AT ,I DID NOT AT ?AT TIME NOTICE ! BEAUTIFUL /ORY1 ,LE ,PAPA DE ,SIMON1 & ! SUP]B /ORY1 SO F> AS ! DESCRIPTION ( 
A NI<T IS CONC]N$1 ,SUR L',EAU4 

0,!RE >E 9 \R TIME1 :5 !RE >E SO MANY :O >E WILL+ 
TO WRITE1 A NUMB] ( PEOPLE ) TAL5T1 :O DO NOT KN[ TO :AT 
TO APPLY IT1 OR :O BOLDLY APPLY IT TO :AT \<T NOT & %\LD 
NOT BE DESCRIB$10 ,I ?\<T4  ,I TOLD ,TURG5EV SO4  ,& ,I 5TIRELY 
=GOT AB\T ,MAUPASSANT4 

,! FIR/ ?+ FROM ,MAUPASSANT'S WRIT+S :I* AFT] ?AT 
FELL 9TO MY H&S WAS ,UNE ,VIE1 :I* SOMEBODY ADVIS$ ME TO 
READ4  ,?IS BOOK AT ONCE MADE ME *ANGE MY OP9ION CONC]N+ 
,MAUPASSANT1 & AFT] ?AT ,I READ ) 9T]E/ EV]Y?+ :I* 
WAS WRITT5 OV] HIS NAME4  ,UNE ,VIE IS AN EXCELL5T NOVEL1 NOT 
ONLY 9COMP>ABLY ! BE/ NOVEL BY ,MAUPASSANT1 BUT ALMO/ ! BE/ 
,FR5* NOVEL S9CE ,HUGO'S ,LES ,MIS]ABLES4  ,BESIDES ! REM>KABLE 
P[] ( HIS TAL5T1 ?AT IS1 ( ?AT PECULI>1 /RA9$ ATT5TION1 
DIRECT$ UPON AN OBJECT1 9 CONSEQU5CE ( :I* ! AU?OR SEES 
5TIRELY NEW FEATURES 9 ! LIFE :I* HE IS DESCRIB+1 ?IS 
NOVEL COMB9ES1 ALMO/ TO AN EQUAL DEGREE1 ALL ?REE CONDITIONS ( 
A TRUE >TI/IC PRODUCTION3   

! CORRECT1 ?AT IS1 ! MORAL1 RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO ! SUBJECT1 
! BEAUTY ( =M1 & 
S9C]ITY1 ?AT IS1 LOVE = :AT ! AU?OR DESCRIBES4 

,H]E ! MEAN+ ( LIFE NO LONG] PRES5TS ITSELF TO ! AU?OR 9 ! 
EXP]I5CES ( ALL K9DS ( DEBAU*$ P]SONS1 -- H]E ! 
CONT5TS1 AS ! TITLE SAYS1 >E =M$ BY ! DESCRIPTION ( A 
RU9$1 9NOC5T1 SWEET WOMAN1 :O IS PREP>$ = ANY?+ 
BEAUTIFUL1 A WOMAN :O IS RU9$ BY ?AT V]Y GROSS1 ANIMAL 
S5SUALITY :I* 9 ! =M] /ORIES PRES5T$ ITSELF TO ! 
AU?OR AS ! C5TRAL PH5OM5ON ( LIFE1 :I* DOM9ATES 
EV]Y?+1 & ! AU?OR'S :OLE SYMPA?Y IS ON ! SIDE ( ! 
GOOD4 

,! =M1 :I* IS BEAUTIFUL EV5 9 ! FIR/ /ORIES1 IS 
H]E C>RI$ TO A HI< DEGREE ( P]FECTION1 SU* AS1 9 MY 
OP9ION1 HAS NOT BE5 REA*$ BY ANY O!R ,FR5* PROSE WRIT]4  
,&1 BESIDES1 :AT IS MO/ IMPORTANT1 ! AU?OR H]E REALLY LOVES1 
& LOVES /RONGLY1 ! GOOD FAMILY :I* HE DESCRIBES1 & 
ACTUALLY DESPISES ?AT CO>SE MALE :O DE/ROYS ! HAPP9ESS & 
PEACE ( ?IS DE> FAMILY & ESPECIALLY ( ! H]O9E ( ! 
NOVEL4 

,IT IS = ?AT REASON ?AT ALL ! EV5TS & P]SONS ( ?IS 
NOVEL >E SO VIVID & IMPRESS !MSELVES ON \R MEMORY3  ! WEAK1 
GOOD1 SLATT]NLY MO!R2 ! NOBLE1 WEAK1 DE> FA!R1 & ! 
DAU<T]1 :O IS /ILL DE>] 9 H] SIMPLICITY1 ABS5CE ( 
EXAGG]ATION1 & READ9ESS = EV]Y?+ GOOD2 !IR MUTUAL 
RELATIONS1 !IR FIR/ J\RNEY1 !IR S]VANTS1 !IR NEI<BORS1 
! CALCULAT+1 CO>SELY S5SU\S1 /+Y1 PETTY IMPUD5T FIANCE1 
:O1 AS ALWAYS1 DECEIVES ! 9NOC5T GIRL ) ! CU/OM>Y BASE 
IDEALIZATION ( ! GROSSE/ ( S5TIM5TS2 ! M>RIAGE2 ,CORSICA1 
) ! *>M+ DESCRIPTIONS ( NATURE2 !N ! LIFE 9 ! 
C\NTRY2 ! CO>SE DECEPTION ( ! HUSB&2 ! SEIZURE ( ! 
P[] OV] ! E/ATE2 HIS CONFLICTS ) HIS FA!R-9-LAW2 ! 
YIELD+ ( ! GOOD PEOPLE2 ! VICTORY ( IMPUD5CE2 ! 
RELATION TO ! NEI<BORS1 -- ALL ?AT IS LIFE ITSELF1 ) ALL 
ITS COMPLEXITY & V>IETY4  ,BUT NOT ONLY IS ALL ?IS DESCRIB$ 
VIVIDLY & WELL1 -- !RE IS OV] ALL A S9C]E1 PA!TIC TONE1 
:I* 9VOLUNT>ILY AFFECTS ! READ]4  ,ONE FEELS ?AT ! AU?OR 
LOVES ?IS WOMAN1 & ?AT HE DOES NOT LOVE H] MA9LY = H] 
EXT]NAL =MS1 BUT = H] S\L1 = :AT !RE IS GOOD 9 IT1 & 
?AT HE SYMPA?IZES ) H] & SUFF]S = H]1 & ?IS 
S5SATION IS 9VOLUNT>ILY TRANSF]R$ TO ! READ]4  ,& ! 
QUE/IONS AS TO :Y1 = :AT PURPOSE ?IS FAIR CREATURE WAS 
RU9$1 & :Y IT %\LD BE SO1 NATURALLY >ISE 9 ! READ]'S 
S\L1 & MAKE HIM /OP & REFLECT ON ! MEAN+ & SIGNIFICANCE 
( HUMAN LIFE4   

,9 SPITE ( ! FALSE NOTES1 :I* H]E & !RE OCCUR 9 ! 
NOVEL1 AS1 = EXAMPLE1 ! DETAIL$ ACC\NT ( ! GIRL'S SK91 OR 
! IMPOSSIBLE & UNNECESS>Y DETAILS AB\T H[ ! DES]T$ WIFE1 
BY ! ADVICE ( ! ABBOT1 AGA9 BECOMES A MO!R1 DETAILS :I* 
DE/ROY ALL ! *>M ( ! H]O9E'S PURITY2 9 SPITE ( ! 
MELODRAMATIC & UNNATURAL HI/ORY ( ! REV5GE ( ! 9SULT$ 
HUSB&1 -- 9 SPITE ( !SE BLEMI%ES1 ! NOVEL NOT ONLY APPE>S 
TO ME TO BE BEAUTIFUL1 BUT ?R\< IT ,I NO LONG] SAW 9 ! AU?OR 
! TAL5T$ BABBL] & JE/]1 :O DOES NOT KN[ & DOES NOT 
WANT TO KN[ :AT IS GOOD & :AT BAD1 SU* AS HE HAD APPE>$ TO 
ME TO BE1 JUDG+ HIM FROM ! FIR/ BOOK1 BUT A S]I\S MAN1 :O 
LOOKS DEEPLY 9TO A MAN'S LIFE & IS BEG9N+ TO MAKE ?+S \T 
9 IT4 

,! NEXT NOVEL ( ,MAUPASSANT :I* ,I READ WAS ,BEL-,AMI4 

,BEL-,AMI IS A V]Y FIL?Y BOOK4  ,! AU?OR APP>5TLY GIVES 
HIMSELF ! RE9S 9 ! DESCRIPTION ( :AT ATTRACTS HIM1 & AT 
TIMES SEEMS TO BE LOS+ ! FUNDAM5TAL1 NEGATIVE PO9T ( VIEW 
UPON HIS H]O & PASSES OV] TO HIS SIDE2 BUT 9 G5]AL1 ,BEL-,AMI1 LIKE ,UNE ,VIE1 HAS = ITS BASIS A S]I\S ?\<T & S5TIM5T4 

,9 ,UNE ,VIE ! FUNDAM5TAL ?\<T IS ! P]PLEXITY 9 ! 
PRES5CE ( ! CRUEL S5SELESSNESS ( ! AGONIZ+ LIFE ( A 
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN1 :O IS RU9$ BY ! GROSS S5SUALITY ( A MAN2 
H]E IT IS NOT ONLY ! P]PLEXITY1 BUT ALSO ! 9DIGNATION ( ! 
AU?OR AT ! SI<T ( ! WELF>E & SUCCESS ( A GROSS S5SU\S 
BEA/1 :O BY HIS V]Y S5SUALITY MAKES A C>E] = HIMSELF & 
ATTA9S A HI< POSITION 9 ! WORLD1 AN 9DIGNATION ALSO AT ! 
SI<T ( ! CORRUPTION ( ?AT MILIEU 9 :I* ! H]O ATTA9S 
HIS SUCCESS4  ,!RE ! AU?OR SEEMS TO ASK3  0,:Y1 = :AT PURPOSE1 IS ! FAIR CREATURE RU9$8  ,:Y DID IT HAPP580  ,H]E HE SEEMS TO BE ANSW]+ ! QUE/IONS3  0,EV]Y?+ PURE & GOOD HAS P]I%$ & CONT9UES TO P]I% 9 \R SOCIETY1 BECAUSE ?IS SOCIETY IS CORRUPT1 S5SELESS1 & T]RIBLE40 

,! LA/ SC5E ( ! NOVEL1 ! M>RIAGE 9 A FA%IONABLE 
*UR* ( ! TRIUMPHANT RASCAL1 :O IS ADORN$ ) ! ,ORD] ( 
! ,LEGION ( ,HONOR1 ) ! PURE Y\NG MAID51 ! DAU<T] ( 
! OLD1 =M]LY IRREPROA*ABLE MO!R ( ! FAMILY1 :OM HE 
S$UC$1 ! M>RIAGE1 :I* IS BLESS$ BY ! BI%OP & IS 
RECOGNIZ$ AS SOME?+ GOOD & PROP] BY ALL ! P]SONS PRES5T1 
EXPRESSES ?IS IDEA ) UNUSUAL =CE4  ,9 ?IS NOVEL1 9 SPITE ( 
ITS BE+ CLOGG$ ) OBSC5E DETAILS1 9 :I* ! AU?OR 
UN=TUNATELY SEEMS TO DELI<T1 WE CAN SEE ! SAME S]I\S 
RELATIONS ( ! AU?OR TO LIFE4 

,READ ! CONV]SATION ( ! OLD POET ) ,DUROY1 :5 !Y 
COME \T AFT] D9N] FROM ! ,WALT]S1 ,I ?9K4  ,! OLD POET LAYS 
B>E LIFE BE=E HIS Y\NG 9T]LOCUTOR & %[S IT TO HIM SU* AS 
IT IS1 ) ITS ET]NAL1 UNAVOIDABLE COMPANION & 5D1 -- DEA?4 

0,IT ALREADY HOLDS ME1 LA GUEUSE10 HE SAYS ( DEA?4  0,IT HAS 
ALREADY LOOS5$ BY TEE?1 PULL$ \T MY HAIR1 MAUL$ MY LIMBS1 & 
IS AB\T TO SWALL[ ME4  ,I AM ALREADY 9 ITS P[]1 -- IT ONLY 
PLAYS ) ME1 AS A CAT PLAYS ) A M\SE1 KN[+ ?AT ,I CANNOT 
GET AWAY FROM IT4  ,GLORY1 WEAL?1 -- :AT IS IT ALL GOOD =1 S9CE 
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BUY A WOMAN'S LOVE ) !M1 & IT IS ONLY 
A WOMAN'S LOVE ?AT MAKES LIFE WOR? LIV+4  ,& DEA? WILL TAKE 
?AT AWAY4  ,IT WILL TAKE ?IS FIR/1 & !N HEAL?1 /R5G?1 & 
LIFE ITSELF4  ,& IT IS ! SAME ) EV]YBODY4  ,& ?AT IS ALL40 

,SU* IS ! MEAN+ ( ! REM>KS ( ! AG+ POET4  ,BUT 
,DUROY1 ! =TUNATE LOV] ( ALL ?OSE WOM5 :OM HE LIKES1 IS SO 
FULL ( S5SU\S 5]GY & /R5G? ?AT HE HE>S1 & YET DOES 
NOT HE>1 & UND]/&S1 & YET DOES NOT UND]/&1 ! WORDS 
( ! OLD POET4  ,HE HE>S & UND]/&S1 BUT ! SPR+ ( HIS 
S5SU\S LIFE BUBBLES UP ) SU* =CE ?AT ! 9CONTE/ABLE 
TRU?1 :I* PROMISES ! SAME 5D TO HIM1 DOES NOT APPALL HIM4 

,IT IS ?IS 9N] CONTRADICTION :I*1 BESIDES ITS SATIRICAL 
SIGNIFICANCE1 =MS ! *IEF MEAN+ ( ,BEL-,AMI4  ,! SAME 
?\<T SP>KLES 9 ! BEAUTIFUL SC5ES ( ! DEA? ( ! 
CONSUMPTIVE J\RNALI/4  ,! AU?OR PUTS ! QUE/ION TO HIMSELF AS 
TO :AT LIFE IS & H[ ! CONTRADICTION BETWE5 ! LOVE ( LIFE 
& ! KN[L$GE ( UNAVOIDABLE DEA? IS TO BE SOLV$1 -- & HE 
DOES NOT ANSW] ! QUE/IONS4  ,HE SEEMS TO BE SEEK+ & WAIT+1 
& DOES NOT DECIDE ONE WAY OR ANO!R4  ,CONSEQU5TLY ! MORAL 
RELATION TO LIFE CONT9UES TO BE CORRECT 9 ?IS NOVEL ALSO4 

,BUT 9 ! NEXT NOVELS AFT] ?AT ?IS MORAL RELATION TO LIFE 
BEG9S TO BECOME 5TANGL$1 ! VALUATION ( ! PH5OM5A ( LIFE 
BEG9S TO WAV]1 TO GR[ DIM1 & 9 ! LA/ NOVELS IS COMPLETELY 
DI/ORT$4 

,9 ,MONT-,ORIOL ,MAUPASSANT SEEMS TO COMB9E ! MOTIVES ( ! 
TWO PREC$+ NOVELS1 & REPEATS HIMSELF AS REG>DS CONT5TS4  ,9 
SPITE ( ! BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTIONS1 FULL ( REF9$ HUMOR1 ( A 
FA%IONABLE WAT]+-PLACE & ( ! ACTIVITY ( ! DOCTORS 9 
?IS PLACE1 WE HAVE H]E ! SAME MALE1 ,PAUL1 :O IS JU/ AS BASE 
& HE>TLESS & ! HUSB& 9 ,UNE ,VIE1 & ! SAME DECEIV$1 
RU9$1 YIELD+1 WEAK1 LONELY1 ALWAYS LONELY1 DE> WOMAN1 & ! 
SAME 9DIFF]5T TRIUMPH ( 9SIGNIFICANCE & BAS5ESS AS 9 ,BEL-,AMI4 

,! ?\<T IS ! SAME1 BUT ! AU?OR'S RELATION TO :AT HE 
DESCRIBES IS N[ CONSID]ABLY L[]1 ESPECIALLY L[] ?AN 9 ! 
FIR/ NOVEL4  ,! 9N] VALUATION ( ! AU?OR AS TO :AT IS GOOD 
& BAD BEG9S TO BECOME 5TANGL$4  ,9 SPITE ( ALL ! M5TAL 
DESIRE ( ! AU?OR TO BE OBJECTIVE )\T ANY BIAS1 ! RASCAL 
,PAUL APP>5TLY 5JOYS ! AU?OR'S COMPLETE SYMPA?Y4  ,= ?IS 
REASON ! HI/ORY ( ,PAUL'S LOVE1 HIS ATTEMPTS TO S$UCE1 & HIS 
SUCCESS 9 ?IS PRODUCE A FALSE IMPRESSION4  ,! READ] DOES NOT 
KN[ :AT ! AU?OR WANTS1 -- :E!R HE WANTS TO %[ ! :OLE 
EMPT9ESS & BAS5ESS ( ,PAUL1 :O ) 9DIFF]5CE TURNS AWAY 
FROM ! WOMAN & (F5DS H]1 ONLY BECAUSE H] =M IS SPOIL$ 
FROM BE+ PREGNANT ) A *ILD BY HIM1 OR :E!R HE WANTS1 ON 
! CONTR>Y1 TO %[ H[ AGREEABLE & NICE IT IS TO LIVE ! WAY 
?IS ,PAUL LIVES4 

,9 ! NEXT NOVELS AFT] ?AT1 ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN1 ,=T COMME LA ,MORT1 & ,NOT] ,COEUR1 ! MORAL RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO 
HIS P]SONS IS /ILL MORE 5TANGL$1 & IS 5TIRELY LO/ 9 ! 
LA/4  ,ON ALL !SE NOVELS ALREADY LIES ! /AMP ( 9DIFF]5CE1 
HA/E1 FICTI\SNESS1 &1 ABOVE ALL1 AGA9 ?AT ABS5CE ( A 
CORRECT MORAL RELATION TO LIFE :I* WAS NOTICEABLE 9 HIS FIR/ 
WRIT+S4  ,?IS BEG9S AT ! SAME TIME ?AT ,MAUPASSANT'S 
REPUTATION AS A FA%IONABLE AU?OR BECOMES E/ABLI%$1 & HE IS 
SUBJECT TO ?AT T]RIBLE TEMPTATION TO :I* EV]Y WELL-KN[N 
AU?OR1 P>TICUL>LY SU* AN ATTRACTIVE ONE AS ,MAUPASSANT1 FALLS A 
PREY4  ,ON ! ONE SIDE1 ! SUCCESS ( ! FIR/ NOVELS1 NEWSPAP] 
LAUDATIONS1 & FLATT]Y ( SOCIETY1 ESPECIALLY ( ! WOM52 ON 
! SECOND1 ! EV]GR[+ REW>DS1 :I*1 H[EV]1 DO NOT KEEP 
PACE ) ! CON/ANTLY GR[+ DEM&S2 ON ! ?IRD1 -- ! 
9SI/5CE ( PUBLI%]S1 :O VIE ) ONE ANO!R1 FLATT]1 
IMPLORE1 & NO LONG] JUDGE ( ! QUALITY ( ! PRODUCTIONS 
(F]$ BY ! AU?OR1 BUT 9 EC/ASY ACCEPT EV]Y?+ :I* 
APPE>S OV] ! NAME ?AT HAS E/ABLI%$ ITS REPUTATION ) ! 
READ+ PUBLIC4  ,ALL !SE TEMPTATIONS >E SO GREAT ?AT !Y 
EVID5TLY 9TOXICATE ! AU?OR3  HE SUCCUMBS TO !M1 &1 ?\< 
HE CONT9UES TO WORK \T HIS NOVELS AS REG>DS !IR =MS1 & 
DOES IT EV5 BETT] ?AN BE=E1 & EV5 LOVES :AT HE DESCRIBES1 
HE NO LONG] LOVES :AT HE DESCRIBES BECAUSE IT IS GOOD & MORAL1 
?AT IS1 BECAUSE IT IS LOV$ BY EV]YBODY1 & HATES :AT HE 
DESCRIBES NOT BECAUSE IT IS BAD & DESPIS$ BY EV]YBODY1 BUT ONLY 
BECAUSE ONE ?+ ACCID5TALLY PLEASES & ANO!R DISPLEASES HIM4 

,UPON ALL ! NOVELS ( MAUPASSANT1 BEG9N+ ) ,BEL-,AMI1 
LIES ?IS /AMP ( HA/E &1 ABOVE ALL1 ( FICTI\SNESS4  ,FROM 
?AT TIME ON ,MAUPASSANT NO LONG] DOES :AT HE DID 9 HIS FIR/ TWO 
NOVELS1 -- HE DOES NOT TAKE = ! F\NDATION ( HIS NOVELS 
C]TA9 MORAL DEM&S & ON !IR BASIS DESCRIBE ! ACTIVITY ( 
HIS P]SONS1 BUT WRITES HIS NOVELS AS ALL >TISAN NOVELI/S WRITE 
!IRS1 ?AT IS1 HE 9V5TS ! MO/ 9T]E/+ & ! MO/ 
PA!TIC OR MO/ CONTEMPOR>Y P]SONS & SITUATIONS1 & FROM 
!SE COMPOSES HIS NOVEL1 ADORN+ IT ) ALL ?OSE OBS]VATIONS 
:I* HE HAS HAPP5$ TO MAKE & :I* FIT 9TO ! CANVAS ( ! 
NOVEL1 )\T ! SLI<TE/ CONC]N H[ ! EV5TS DESCRIB$ >E 
RELAT$ TO ! DEM&S ( MORALITY4  ,SU* >E ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN1 ,=T COMME LA ,MORT1 & ,NOT] ,COEUR4 

,NO MATT] H[ MU* WE >E ACCU/OM$ TO READ 9 ,FR5* NOVELS 
AB\T H[ FAMILIES LIVE BY ?REES1 & H[ !RE IS ALWAYS A LOV]1 
:OM ALL BUT ! HUSB& KN[1 IT /ILL REMA9S QUITE 
9COMPREH5SIBLE TO US H[ IT IS ?AT ALL HUSB&S >E ALWAYS 
FOOLS1 COCUS1 & RIDICULES1 & ALL LOV]S1 :O 9 ! 5D 
M>RY & BECOME HUSB&S1 >E NEI!R RIDICULE NOR COCUS1 BUT 
H]OES4  ,& /ILL LESS CAN WE UND]/& 9 :AT WAY ALL WOM5 >E 
LOOSE 9 MORALS & ALL MO!RS HOLY4 

,IT IS ON !SE UNNATURAL & IMPROBABLE &1 ABOVE ALL1 
PR(\NDLY IMMORAL SITUATIONS ?AT ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN & ,=T COMME LA ,MORT >E CON/RUCT$4  & SO ! SUFF]+S ( ! P]SONS :O 
>E 9 !SE SITUATIONS  DO NOT T\* US MU*4  ,PI]RE'S & ,JEAN'S 
MO!R1 :O WAS ABLE TO PASS ALL H] LIFE 9 DECEIV+ H] HUSB&1 
EVOKES LITTLE SYMPA?Y = H]SELF :5 %E IS COMPELL$ TO CONFESS 
H] S9 TO H] SON1 & /ILL LESS :5 %E JU/IFIES H]SELF1 
ASS]T+ ?AT %E C\LD NOT HELP MAK+ USE ( ! OPPORTUNITY ( 
HAPP9ESS :I* PRES5T$ ITSELF TO H]4  ,/ILL LESS CAN WE 
SYMPA?IZE ) ! G5TLEMAN :O1 9 ,=T COMME LA ,MORT1 DUR+ 
HIS :OLE LIFE DECEIV$ HIS FRI5D1 CORRUPT$ HIS WIFE1 & N[ 
LAM5TS BECAUSE1 HAV+ GR[N OLD1 HE IS NOT ABLE TO CORRUPT ALSO 
! DAU<T] ( HIS P>AM\R4  ,BUT ! LA/ NOVEL1 ,NOT] ,COEUR1 
DOES NOT EV5 HAVE ANY 9N] PROBLEM1 EXCEPT ! DESCRIPTION ( ALL 
K9DS ( %ADES ( SEXUAL LOVE4  ,:AT IS DESCRIB$ IS A SATIAT$1 
IDLE DEBAU*EE1 :O DOES NOT KN[ :AT HE WANTS1 & :O N[ FALLS 
9 ) JU/ AS DEBAU*$1 M5TALLY DEBAU*$1 A WOMAN1 )\T 
EV5 ANY JU/IFICATION ( S5SUALITY1 & N[ P>TS FROM H] & 
FALLS 9 ) A S]VANT GIRL1 & N[ AGA9 FALLS 9 ) ! FIR/ 
&1 IT SEEMS1 LIVES ) BO?4  ,?\< 9 ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN & 
,=T COMME LA ,MORT !RE >E T\*+ SC5ES1 ?IS LA/ NOVEL 
PROVOKES NO?+ BUT DISGU/ 9 US4 

,! QUE/ION 9 ,MAUPASSANT'S FIR/ NOVEL1 ,UNE ,VIE1 /&S 
LIKE ?IS4  ,H]E IS A GOOD1 CLEV]1 DE> HUMAN BE+1 READY = 
ANY?+ GOOD1 & ?IS BE+ = SOME REASON IS SACRIFIC$1 AT 
FIR/ TO A CO>SE1 PETTY1 /UPID ANIMAL ( A HUSB&1 & !N TO 
JU/ SU* A SON1 & P]I%ES AIMLESSLY1 )\T HAV+ GIV5 
ANY?+ TO ! WORLD4  ,:AT IS ?IS =8  ,! AU?OR PUTS ! 
QUE/ION LIKE ?AT1 & DOES NOT SEEM TO GIVE ANY ANSW]4  ,BUT HIS 
:OLE NOVEL1 ALL HIS S5TIM5TS ( SYMPA?Y = H] & DISGU/ 
) :AT RU9$ H] S]VE AS AN ANSW] TO HIS QUE/ION4  ,IF !RE 
IS ONE MAN :O HAS UND]/OOD H] SUFF]+S & HAS GIV5 
EXPRESSION TO ?IS UND]/&+1 !SE SUFF]+S >E R$EEM$1 AS 
,JOB SAYS TO HIS FRI5DS1 :5 !Y SAY ?AT NO ONE WILL F9D \T 
AB\T HIS SUFF]+4  ,LET A SUFF]+ BE MADE KN[N & UND]/OOD1 
& IT IS R$EEM$4  ,H]E ! AU?OR SAW & COMPREH5D$ ?IS 
SUFF]+ & %[$ IT TO M54  ,& ?IS SUFF]+ IS R$EEM$1 
BECAUSE1 AS SOON AS IT IS UND]/OOD BY M51 IT WILL SOON] OR 
LAT] BE DE/ROY$4 

,9 ! NEXT NOVEL1 ,BEL-,AMI1 ! QUE/ION IS NO LONG] AS TO 
:Y !RE IS ANY SUFF]+ = ! WOR?Y1 BUT :Y !RE IS WEAL? 
& GLORY = ! UNWOR?Y4  ,& :AT >E ?IS WEAL? & GLORY1 
& H[ >E !Y ACQUIR$8  ,& JU/ AS BE=E1 ?IS QUE/ION 
9CLUDES AN ANSW]1 :I* CONSI/S 9 ! NEGATION ( EV]Y?+ 
:I* IS SO HI<LY VALU$ BY ! CR[D4  ,! CONT5TS ( ?IS 
SECOND NOVEL >E /ILL S]I\S1 BUT ! MORAL RELATION ( ! 
AU?OR TO ! SUBJECT DESCRIB$ IS CONSID]ABLY WEAK5$1 & :ILE 
9 ! FIR/ NOVEL ONLY H]E & !RE OCCUR BLEMI%ES ( 
S5SUALITY1 :I* SPOIL ! NOVEL1 9 ,BEL-,AMI !SE BLEMI%ES 
EXP&1 & MANY *APT]S >E WRITT5 9 M]E OBSC5ITY1 9 :I* 
! AU?OR SEEMS TO REVEL4 

,9 ! NEXT NOVEL1 ,MONT-,ORIOL1 ! QUE/IONS AS TO :Y & 
= :AT PURPOSE >E ! SUFF]+S ( ! DE> WOMAN & ! 
SUCCESS & JOYS ( ! SAVAGE MALE >E NO LONG] PUT1 BUT IT SEEMS 
TO BE ASSUM$ ?AT IT \<T TO BE SO1 & ! MORAL DEM&S >E 
ALMO/ NOT FELT2 9/EAD !RE APPE>1 )\T ANY NE$ & EVOK$ 
BY NO >TI/IC DEM&S1 OBSC5E1 S5SU\S DESCRIPTIONS4  ,AS A 
/RIK+ EXAMPLE ( ?IS VIOLATION ( >T1 9 CONSEQU5CE ( ! 
9CORRECT RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO ! SUBJECT1 MAY ) 
P>TICUL> VIVIDNESS S]VE ! DETAIL$ DESCRIPTION ( ! 
APPE>ANCE ( ! H]O9E 9 ! BA?TUB1 :I* IS GIV5 9 ?IS 
NOVEL4  ,?IS DESCRIPTION IS ( NO USE :ATSOEV]1 & IS 9 NO WAY 
CONNECT$ ) ! EXT]NAL OR ! 9T]NAL MEAN+ ( ! NOVEL3  
BUBBLES CL+ TO ! P9K BODY4 

0,WELL80 ASKS ! READ]4 

     0,?AT'S ALL10 REPLIES ! AU?OR4  0,I DESCRIBE1 BECAUSE ,I LIKE 

SU* DESCRIPTIONS40 

,9 ! NEXT TWO NOVELS1 ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN & ,=T COMME LA ,MORT1 NO MORAL DEM& :ATEV] IS TO BE F\ND4  ,BO? NOVELS >E CON/RUCT$ ON DEBAU*]Y1 DECEPTION1 & LY+1 :I* BR+ ! DRAMATIS P]SONAE TO TRAGIC SITUATIONS4 

,9 ! LA/ NOVEL1 ,NOT] ,COEUR1 ! CONDITION ( ! 
DRAMATIS P]SONAE IS MO/ MON/R\S1 SAVAGE1 & IMMORAL1 & 
!SE P]SONS NO LONG] /RUGGLE AGA9/ ANY?+1 BUT ONLY SEEK 
5JOYM5TS1 ( AMBITION1 ( ! S5SES1 ( ! SEXUAL PASSION1 & 
! AU?OR SEEMS TO SYMPA?IZE COMPLETELY ) !IR /RIV+S4  
,! ONLY CONCLUSION ONE CAN DRAW FROM ?IS LA/ NOVEL IS ?IS1 ?AT 
! GREATE/ HAPP9ESS 9 LIFE IS SEXUAL 9T]C\RSE1 & ?AT1 
!RE=E1 WE MU/ 9 ! MO/ AGREEABLE MANN] MAKE USE ( ?IS 
HAPP9ESS4 

,/ILL MORE />TL+ 9 ?IS IMMORAL RELATION TO LIFE AS IT IS 
EXPRESS$ 9 ! QUASI-NOVEL1 ,YVETTE4  ,! CONT5TS ( ?IS 
T]RIBLY IMMORAL PRODUCTION >E AS FOLL[S3 A *>M+ GIRL1 ) 
AN 9NOC5T S\L1 BUT CORRUPT$ 9 ! =MS :I* %E HAS ACQUIR$ 
9 ! CORRUPT SURR\ND+S ( H] MO!R1 DELUDES ! DEBAU*EE4  
,HE FALLS 9 LOVE ) H]1 BUT1 IMAG9+ ?AT ?IS GIRL 
CONSCI\SLY TALKS ?AT 9S9UAT+ NONS5SE :I* %E HAS LE>N$ 
9 H] MO!R'S COMPANY1 & :I* %E REPEATS LIKE A P>ROT1 
)\T UND]/&+ IT1 HE IMAG9ES ?AT ! GIRL IS CORRUPT1 & 
CO>SELY PROPOSES A LIAISON ) H]4  ,?IS PROPOSITION FRI<T5S 
& (F5DS H] 7%E LOVE HIM71 OP5S H] EYES TO H] POSITION & 
TO ?AT ( H] MO!R1 & MAKES H] SUFF] DEEPLY4  ,! T\*+ 
SITUATION -- ! CONFLICT ( ! BEAUTY ( ! 9NOC5T S\L ) 
! IMMORALITY ( ! WORLD -- IS BEAUTIFULLY DESCRIB$1 & IT 
W\LD HAVE BE5 WELL TO /OP H]E1 BUT ! AU?OR1 )\T ! 
LEA/ EXT]NAL OR 9T]NAL NE$1 CONT9UES HIS N>RATION & CAUSES 
?IS G5TLEMAN TO MAKE HIS WAY TO ! GIRL AT NI<T & S$UCE H]4  
,9 ! FIR/ P>T ( ! NOVEL1 ! AU?OR HAD EVID5TLY BE5 ON 
! SIDE ( ! GIRL1 & 9 ! SECOND HE SUDD5LY PASS$ OV] TO 
! SIDE ( ! DEBAU*EE4  ,ONE IMPRESSION DE/ROYS ! O!R1 & 
! :OLE NOVEL FALLS TO PIECES & BREAKS UP1 LIKE BREAD :I* HAS 
NOT BE5 KNEAD$4 

,9 ALL HIS NOVELS AFT] ,BEL-,AMI 7,I AM NOT SPEAK+ N[ ( 
HIS %ORT] /ORIES1 :I* =M HIS *IEF DES]T & FAME1 -- ( 
!M ,I %ALL SPEAK LAT]71 ,MAUPASSANT OBVI\SLY SURR5D]$ HIMSELF 
TO ! !ORY1 :I* NOT ONLY EXI/$ 9 HIS CIRCLE 9 ,P>IS1 BUT 
:I* N[ EXI/S EV]Y:]E AMONG >TI/S1 ?AT = AN >TI/IC 
PRODUCTION WE NOT ONLY NE$ HAVE NO CLE> CONCEPTION ( :AT IS 
GOOD & :AT BAD1 BUT ?AT1 ON ! CONTR>Y1 ! >TI/ MU/ 
ABSOLUTELY IGNORE ALL MORAL QUE/IONS1 -- ?AT 9 ?IS DOES A 
C]TA9 M]IT ( ! >TI/ CONSI/4  ,ACCORD+ TO ?IS !ORY AN 
>TI/ CAN & MU/ REPRES5T :AT IS TRUE1 :AT EXI/S1 OR :AT IS 
BEAUTIFUL1 :AT1 CONSEQU5TLY1 PLEASES HIM OR EV5 :AT CAN BE 
USEFUL AS MAT]IAL = 0SCI5CE10 BUT IT IS NOT ! BUS9ESS ( ! 
>TI/ TO TR\BLE HIMSELF AB\T :AT IS MORAL OR IMMORAL1 GOOD OR 
BAD4 

,I REMEMB]1 A FAM\S PA9T] %[$ ME ONCE HIS PA9T+1 
:I* REPRES5T$ A RELIGI\S PROCESSION4  ,EV]Y?+ WAS 
EXQUISITELY PA9T$1 BUT ,I C\LD NOT SEE ANY RELATION ( ! >TI/ TO HIS SUBJECT4 

0,WELL1 DO Y\ CONSID] !SE RITES GOOD1 & DO Y\ ?9K ?AT 

!Y \<T TO BE P]=M$1 OR DO Y\ NOT80 ,I ASK$ ?AT >TI/4 

     ,! >TI/ SAID TO ME1 ) A C]TA9 CONDESC5SION TO MY 

NAIVETE1 ?AT HE DID NOT KN[ & DID NOT CONSID] IT NECESS>Y TO 

KN[3  HIS BUS9ESS WAS TO REPRES5T LIFE4 

     0,BUT DO Y\ AT LEA/ LOVE ?IS80 

     0,I CANNOT TELL Y\40 

     0,WELL1 DO Y\ DESPISE !SE RITES80 

     0,NEI!R ! ONE NOR ! O!R10 REPLI$1 ) A SMILE ( 

COMPASSION = MY /UPIDITY1 ! MOD]N HI<LY CULTUR$ >TI/1 :O 

REPRES5T$ LIFE )\T UND]/&+ ITS MEAN+ & )\T 

EI!R LOV+ OR HAT+ ITS PH5OM5A4 

,EV5 SO UN=TUNATELY ?\<T ,MAUPASSANT4 

,9 HIS 9TRODUCTION TO ,PI]RE ET ,JEAN HE SAYS ?AT PEOPLE 
TELL ! WRIT]3 0,CONSOLEZ-MOI1 ATTRI/EZ-MOI1 ATT5DRISSEZ-MOI1 FAITES-MOI REV]1 FAITES-MOI RIRE1 FAITES-MOI FREMIR1 FAITES-MOI PLEUR]1 FAITES-MOI P5S]4  ,SEULS QUEL-EUES ESPRITS D'ELITES DEM&5T A L'>TI/3  FAITES-MOI QUEL-QUE *OSE DE BEAU DANS LA =ME QUI V\S CONVI5DRA LE MIEUX D'APRES VOTRE TEMP]AM5T40 

,IT WAS TO SATISFY ! DEM& ( !SE *OS5 SPIRITS ?AT 
,MAUPASSANT WROTE HIS NOVELS1 IMAG9+ NAIVELY ?AT ?AT :I* WAS 
CONSID]$ BEAUTIFUL 9 HIS CIRCLE WAS ! BEAUTIFUL :I* >T 
\<T TO S]VE4 

,9 ! SAME CIRCLE 9 :I* ,MAUPASSANT MOV$1 IT IS WOMAN1 A 
Y\NG1 BEAUTIFUL1 = ! MO/ P>T A NUDE WOMAN1 & ! SEXUAL 
9T]C\RSE ) H] ?AT HAVE PREEM95TLY BE5 CONSID]$ TO BE 
?AT BEAUTY :I* >T MU/ S]VE4  ,SU* AN OP9ION WAS HELD NOT 
ONLY BY ,MAUPASSANT'S FELL[S 9 0>T10 BY PA9T]S1 SCULPTORS1 
NOVELI/S1 & POETS1 BUT ALSO BY PHILOSOPH]S1 ! TEA*]S ( ! 
Y\NG] G5]ATIONS4  ,?US ! FAM\S ,R5AN SAYS FRANKLY 9 HIS 
WORK1 ,M>C ,AURELE1 :ILE CONDEMN+ ,*RI/IANITY = ITS LACK ( 
APPRECIATION ( FEM99E BEAUTY3 

0,LE DEFAUT DU *RI/IANISME APP>AIT BI5 ICI1 IL E/ TROP 

UNIQUEM5T MORAL3  LA BEAUTE *EZ-LUI E/ T\T-A-FAIT SACRIFIEE4  
,OR1 AUX YEUX D'UNE PHILOSOPHIE COMPLETE1 LA BEAUTE1 LO9 D'ETRE UN 
AVANTAGE SUP]VICIEL1 UN DANG]1 UN 9CONV5I5T1 E/ UN DON DE 
,DIEU1 COMME LA V]TU4  ,ELLE VAUT LA V]TU2 LA FEMME BELLE EXPRIME 
AUSSI BI5 UNE FACE DU BUT DIV91 UNE DES F9S DE ,DIEU1 QUE L'HOMME 
DE G5IE \ LA FEMME V]TUEUSE4  ,ELLE LE SAIT ET DE LA SA FI]TE4  
,ELLE S5T 9/9CTIVEM5T LE TRESOR 9F9I QU'ELLE PORTE 5 SON 
CORPS2 ELLE SAIT BI51 QUE SANS ESPRIT1 SANS TAL5T1 SANS GRAVE 
V]TU1 ELLE COMPTE 5TRE LES PREMI]ES MANIFE/ATIONS DE ,DIEU3  ET 
P\RQUOI LUI 9T]DIRE DE METTRE 5 VALEUR LE DON1 QUI LUI A ETE 
FAIT1 DE SORTIR LE DIAMANT QUI LUI E/ E*U8 

0,LA FEMME1 5 SE PASSANT1 ACCOMPLIT UN DEVOIR2 ELLE PRATIQUE 
UN >T1 >T EXQUIS1 5 UN S5S LE PLUS *>MANT DES >TS4  ,NE N\S 
LAISSONS PAS EG>] P> LE S\RIRE QUE C]TA9S MOTS PROVOQU5T 
*EZ LES G5S FRIVOLES4  ,ON DEC]NE LA PALME DU G5IE A L'>TI/E 
GREC QUI A SU RES\DRE LE PLUS DELICAT DES PROBLEMES1 ORN] LE 
CORPS HUMA91 C'E/ A ORN] LA P]FECTION MEME1 ET L'ON NE VEUT 
VOIR QU'UNE AFFAIRE DE *IFFONS DANS L'ESSAI DE COLLABOR] A LA 
PLUS BELLE OEUVRE DE ,DIEU1 A LA BEAUTE DE LA FEMME6  ,LA TOILETTE DE 
LA FEMME1 AVEC T\S SES RAFF9EM5TS1 E/ DU GR& >T A SA 
MANI]E4 

      
0,LES SIECLES ET LES PAYS1 QUI SAV5T Y REUSSIR1 -- SONT LES 
GR&S SIECLES1 LES GR&S PAYS1 ET LE *RI/IANISME MONTRA P> 
L'EXCLUSION DONT IL FRAPPA LE G5RE DE RE*]*ES QUE L'IDEAL 
SOCIAL QU'IL CONCEVAIT NE DEVI5DRAIT LE CADRE D'UNE SOCIETE 
COMPLETE QUE BI5 PLUS T>D1 QU& LA REVOLTE DES G5ES DU MONDE 
AURAIT BRISE LE J\G ETROIT IMPOSE PRIMITIVEM5T A LA SECTE P> UN 
PIETISME EXALTE0 7,M>C ,AURELE1 P4 #e#e#e74 

,TO LEAVE NO D\BT 9 :AT S5SE BEAUTY IS TO BE TAK51 ?IS 
SAME FAM\S WRIT]1 HI/ORIAN1 & S*OL> WROTE A DRAMA1 
,L',ABBESSE DE ,J\>RE1 9 :I* HE %[$ ?AT SEXUAL 9T]C\RSE 
) A WOMAN IS ?AT V]Y M9I/RATION TO BEAUTY1 ?AT IS1 A HI< 
& GOOD WORK4  ,9 ?IS DRAMA1 :I* IS REM>KABLE = ITS ABS5CE 
( TAL5T & ESPECIALLY = ! CO>S5ESS ( ,D>CY'S 
CONV]SATIONS ) ! ,ABBESS1 :]E WE CAN SEE FROM ! V]Y FIR/ 
WORDS ( :AT LOVE ?IS G5TLEMAN IS SPEAK+ ) ! APP>5TLY 
9NOC5T & HI<LY MORAL GIRL1 :O IS NOT 9 ! LEA/ (F5D$ BY 
?IS1 -- IT APPE>S ?AT ! MO/ HI<LY MORAL PEOPLE1 9 ! SI<T 
( DEA?1 TO :I* !Y >E CONDEMN$1 A FEW H\RS BE=E IT CAN DO 
NO?+ MORE BEAUTIFUL ?AT SURR5D] !MSELVES TO !IR ANIMAL 
PASSION4 

,?US1 9 ! CIRCLE 9 :I* ,MAUPASSANT GREW UP & WAS 
$UCAT$1 ! REPRES5TATION ( FEM99E BEAUTY & LOVE HAS QUITE 
S]I\SLY1 & AS SOME?+ LONG AGO DECID$ & DET]M9$ BY ! 
CLEV]E/ & MO/ LE>N$ ( M51 BE5 CONSID]$ TO BE ! TRUE 
PROBLEM ( ! HI<E/ >T1 -- LE GR& >T4 

,IT IS TO ?IS !ORY1 FRI<TFUL 9 ITS 9SIPIDITY1 ?AT 
,MAUPASSANT WAS SUBJECT$1 :5 HE BECAME A FA%IONABLE WRIT]4  
,&1 AS WAS TO HAVE BE5 EXPECT$1 9 ! NOVELS ?IS FALSE IDEAL 
L$ ,MAUPASSANT TO A S]IES ( MI/AKES & TO WEAK] & EV] 
WEAK] PRODUCTIONS4 

,9 ?IS %[$ ITSELF ! RADICAL DIFF]5CE :I* EXI/S 
BETWE5 ! DEM&S ( ! NOVEL & ?OSE ( ! /ORY4  ,! NOVEL 
HAS = ITS PROBLEM1 EV5 = ITS EXT]NAL PROBLEM1 ! DESCRIPTION 
( ! :OLE HUMAN LIFE OR ( MANY HUMAN LIVES1 & SO ! WRIT] 
( A NOVEL MU/ HAVE A CLE> & FIRM IDEA ( :AT IS GOOD & :AT 
BAD 9 LIFE1 & ,MAUPASSANT DID NOT POSSESS ?AT2 ON ! CONTR>Y1 
ACCORD+ TO ! !ORY TO :I* HE HELD1 IT WAS ?\<T ?AT ?AT 
WAS NOT NECESS>Y4  ,IF HE HAD BE5 A NOVELI/ LIKE SOME UNTAL5T$ 
WRIT]S ( S5SU\S NOVELS1 HE W\LD HAVE CALMLY DESCRIB$ AS GOOD 
:AT IS BAD1 & HIS NOVELS W\LD BE COMPLETE & 9T]E/+ = 
PEOPLE %>+ ! SAME VIEWS AS ! AU?OR4  ,BUT ,MAUPASSANT HAD 
TAL5T1 ?AT IS1 HE SAW ?+S 9 !IR REAL =M1 & SO HE 
9VOLUNT>ILY REVEAL$ ! TRU?3  HE 9VOLUNT>ILY SAW ! BAD 9 
:AT HE WANT$ TO REG>D AS GOOD4  ,= ?IS REASON HIS SYMPA?Y IS 
CON/ANTLY WAV]+ 9 ALL HIS NOVELS1 ) ! EXCEPTION ( ! 
FIR/3  N[ HE REPRES5TS ! BAD AS BE+ GOOD1 N[ HE RECOGNIZES 
! BAD TO BE BAD & ! GOOD TO BE GOOD1 & N[ AGA9 HE KEEPS 
ALL ! TIME JUMP+ FROM ONE TO ! O!R4  ,BUT ?IS DE/ROYS ! 
V]Y ESS5CE ( EV]Y >TI/IC IMPRESSION1 ! *>P5TE1 ON 
:I* HE /&S4  ,PEOPLE :O >E NOT V]Y S5SITIVE TO >T 
FREQU5TLY IMAG9E ?AT AN >TI/IC PRODUCTION =MS ONE :OLE1 
BECAUSE ! SAME P]SONS ACT 9 IT ALL ! TIME1 BECAUSE EV]Y?+ 
IS CON/RUCT$ ON ONE PLOT1 OR BECAUSE ! LIFE ON ONE MAN IS 
DESCRIB$4  ,?AT IS NOT TRUE4  ,?AT ONLY SEEMS TO ! SUP]FICIAL 
OBS]V]3  ! CEM5T :I* B9DS EV]Y >TI/IC PRODUCTION 9TO 
ONE :OLE & SO PRODUCES ! ILLUSION ( A REFLECTION ( LIFE IS 
NOT ! UNITY ( P]SONS & SITUATIONS1 BUT ! UNITY ( ! 
ORIG9AL1 MORAL RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO HIS SUBJECT4  ,9 REALITY1 
:5 WE READ OR CONTEMPLATE AN >TI/IC PRODUCTION BY A NEW AU?OR1 
! FUNDAM5TAL QUE/ION :I* >ISES 9 \R S\L IS ALWAYS ?IS3  
0,WELL1 :AT K9D ( A MAN >E Y\8  ,H[ DO Y\ DIFF] FROM ALL 
O!R M5 :OM ,I KN[1 & :AT NEW ?+ CAN Y\ TELL ME AB\T ! 
WAY WE \<T TO LOOK UPON \R LIFE80  ,NO MATT] :AT ! >TI/ MAY 
REPRES5T1 -- SA9TS1 ROBB]S1 K+S1 LACKEYS1 -- WE SEEK & SEE 
ONLY ! >TI/'S S\L4  ,IF HE IS AN OLD1 FAMILI> >TI/1 ! 
QUE/ION IS NO LONG]1 0:O >E Y\80 BUT1 0,WELL1 :AT NEW ?+ 
CAN Y\ TELL ME8  ,FROM :AT NEW SIDE WILL Y\ N[ ILLUM9E MY LIFE 
= ME80  ,& SO AN AU?OR :O HAS NO DEF9ITE1 CLE>1 NEW VIEW ( 
! WORLD1 & /ILL MORE SO ! ONE :O DOES NOT CONSID] ?IS TO 
BE NECESS>Y1 CANNOT GIVE AN >TI/IC PRODUCTION4  ,HE CAN WRITE 
BEAUTIFULLY1 & A GREAT DEAL1 BUT !RE WILL BE NO >TI/IC 
PRODUCTION4  ,EV5 SO IT WAS ) ,MAUPASSANT 9 HIS NOVELS4  ,9 HIS 
FIR/ TWO NOVELS1 ESPECIALLY 9 ! FIR/1 ,UNE ,VIE1 !RE WAS 
?AT CLE>1 DEF9ITE1 NEW RELATION TO LIFE1 & SO !RE WAS AN 
>TI/IC PRODUCTION2 BUT AS SOON AS HE1 SUBMITT+ TO ! 
FA%IONABLE !ORY1 DECID$ ?AT !RE IS NO NE$ :ATEV] = ?IS 
RELATION ( ! AU?OR TO LIFE1 & BEGAN TO WRITE ONLY 9 ORD] TO 
FAIRE QUELQUE *OSE DE BEAU1 HIS NOVELS CEAS$ TO BE >TI/IC 
PRODUCTIONS4  ,9 ,UNE ,VIE & ,BEL-,AMI ! AU?OR KN[S :O IS TO 
BE LOV$ & :O IS TO BE HAT$1 & ! READ] AGREES ) HIM & 
BELIEVES HIM1 BELIEVES 9 ?OSE P]SONS & EV5TS :I* >E 
DESCRIB$ TO HIM4  ,BUT 9 ,NOT] ,COEUR & 9 ,YVETTE ! AU?OR 
DOES NOT KN[ :O IS TO BE LOV$ & :O IS TO BE HAT$2 NOR DOES 
! READ] KN[ IT4  ,& AS ! READ] DOES NOT KN[ IT1 HE DOES 
NOT BELIEVE 9 ! EV5TS DESCRIB$ & IS NOT 9T]E/$ 9 !M4  
,& SO1 ) ! EXCEPTION ( ! FIR/ T[1 OR1 SPEAK+ /RICTLY1 
( ! ONE FIR/ NOVEL1 ALL ( ,MAUPASSANT'S NOVELS1 AS NOVELS1 >E 
WEAK2 & IF ,MAUPASSANT HAD LEFT US ONLY HIS NOVELS1 HE W\LD BE A 
/RIK+ EXAMPLE ( H[ A BRILLIANT GIFT MAY P]I% 9 CONSEQU5CE 
( ?AT FALSE MILIEU 9 :I* IT WAS EVOLV$1 & ( ?OSE FALSE 
!ORIES ( >T :I* >E 9V5T$ BY M5 :O DO NOT LOVE IT & SO 
DO NOT UND]/& IT4  ,BUT1 =TUNATELY1 ,MAUPASSANT HAS WRITT5 
%ORT /ORIES1 9 :I* HE DID NOT SUCCUMB TO ! FALSE !ORY 
:I* HE ADOPT$1 & WROTE1 NOT QUELQUE *OSE DE BEAU1 BUT :AT 
T\*$ & PROVOK$ HIS MORAL FEEL+4  ,IT IS 9 !SE /ORIES1 
NOT 9 ALL1 BUT 9 ! BE/ ( !M1 ?AT WE SEE H[ ! MORAL 
FEEL+ GREW 9 ! AU?OR4 

,9 ?IS1 9DE$1 DOES ! REM>KABLE QUALITY ( EV]Y TRUE 
TAL5T CONSI/1 SO LONG AS IT DOES NOT DO VIOL5CE TO ITSELF UND] 
! 9FLU5CE ( A FALSE !ORY1 ?AT IT TEA*ES ITS POSSESSOR1 
LEADS HIM ON OV] ! PA? ( MORAL DEVELOPM5T1 MAKES HIM LOVE 
:AT IS WOR? ( LOVE1 & HATE :AT IS WOR?Y ( HATR$4  ,AN 
>TI/ IS AN >TI/ = ! V]Y REASON ?AT HE SEES ! OBJECTS1 
NOT AS HE WANTS TO SEE !M1 BUT AS !Y >E4  ,! BE>] ( 
TAL5T1 -- MAN1 -- MAY MAKE MI/AKES1 BUT ! TAL5T1 AS SOON AS 
! RE9S >E GIV5 TO IT1 AS WAS DONE BY ,MAUPASSANT 9 HIS 
/ORIES1 WILL REVEAL & LAY B>E ! SUBJECT & WILL MAKE ! 
WRIT] LOVE IT1 IF IT IS WOR? ( LOVE1 & HATE IT1 IF IT IS 
WOR?Y ( HATR$4  ,:AT HAPP5S TO EV]Y TRUE >TI/1 :51 UND] 
! 9FLU5CE ( HIS SURR\ND+S1 HE BEG9S TO DESCRIBE SOME?+ 
DIFF]5T FROM :AT HE \<T TO DESCRIBE1 IS :AT HAPP5$ TO 
,BALAAM1 :O1 :5 HE WANT$ TO BLESS1 CURS$ ?AT :I* \<T TO 
HAVE BE5 CURS$1 &1 :5 HE WANT$ TO CURSE1 BEGAN TO BLESS ?AT 
:I* \<T TO HAVE BE5 BLESS$2 HE WILL 9VOLUNT>ILY DO1 NOT 
:AT HE WANTS1 BUT :AT HE \<T TO DO4  ,! SAME HAPP5$ ) 
,MAUPASSANT4 

,!RE HAS H>DLY BE5 ANO!R SU* AN AU?OR1 :O ?\<T SO 
S9C]ELY ?AT ALL ! GOOD1 ! :OLE MEAN+ ( LIFE WAS 9 
WOMAN1 9 LOVE1 & :O ) SU* =CE ( PASSION DESCRIB$ WOMAN 
& ! LOVE ( H] FROM ALL SIDES1 & !RE HAS H>DLY BE5 
ANO!R AU?OR1 :O ) SU* CLE>NESS & PRECISION HAS PO9T$ 
\T ALL ! T]RIBLE SIDES ( ! SAME PH5OM5ON1 :I* TO HIM 
SEEM$ TO BE ! HI<E/1 & ONE ?AT GIVES ! GREATE/ GOOD TO 
M54  ,! MORE HE COMPREH5D$ ?IS PH5OM5ON1 ! MORE DID IT 
BECOME UNVEIL$2 ! %R\DS FELL (F1 & ALL !RE WAS LEFT WAS 
ITS T]RIBLE CONSEQU5CES & ITS /ILL MORE T]RIBLE REALITY4 

,READ HIS ,IDIOT ,SON10 0,A ,NI<T ) ! ,DAU<T]0 
7,L',]MITE71 0,! ,SAILOR & ,HIS ,SI/]0 7,LE ,PORT71 0,FIELD ( ,OLIVES10 ,LA ,PETIT ,ROQUE1 ! ,5GLI% ,MISS ,H>RIET1 ,MONSIEUR ,P>5T1 ,L',>MOIRE 7! GIRL ?AT FELL ASLEEP 9 ! SAFE71 0,! ,M>RIAGE0 9 ,SUR L',EAU1 & ! LA/ EXPRESSION ( EV]Y?+1 ,UN ,CAS DE ,DIVORCE4   

,:AT ,M>CUS ,AURELIUS SAID1 TRY+ TO F9D MEANS 
) :I* TO DE/ROY 9 IMAG9ATION ! ATTRACTIV5ESS ( ?IS 
S91 ,MAUPASSANT DOES 9 GL>+1 >TI/IC PICTURES1 :I* UPSET ONE 
COMPLETELY4  ,HE WANTS TO LAUD LOVE1 BUT ! MORE HE KNEW ( IT1 ! 
MORE HE CURS$ IT4  ,HE CURS$ IT = ! CALAMITIES & SUFF]+S 
:I* IT BR+S ) IT1 & = ! DISAPPO9TM5TS1 &1 ABOVE 
ALL1 = ! SIMULATION ( TRUE LOVE1 = ! DECEPTION :I* IS 9 
IT1 & FROM :I* MAN SUFF]S ! MORE1 ! MORE HE AB&ONS 
HIMSELF TO ?IS DECEPTION4 

,! MI<T MORAL GR[? ( ! AU?OR1 DUR+ HIS LIT]>Y 
ACTIVITY1 IS WRITT5 9 9DELIBLE *>ACT]S 9 !SE EXQUISITE 
%ORT /ORIES & 9 HIS BE/ BOOK1 ,SUR L',EAU4 

,& NOT M]ELY 9 ?IS DISCR[N+1 ?IS 9VOLUNT>Y &1 
!RE=E1 SO MU* MORE P[]FUL DISCR[N+ ( SEXUAL LOVE1 DO WE 
SEE ! AU?OR'S MORAL GR[?2 WE SEE IT ALSO 9 ALL ?OSE HI<] 
& EV] HI<] DEM&S :I* HE MAKES ON LIFE4 

,NOT ONLY 9 SEXUAL LOVE DOES HE SEE ! 9N] CONTRADICTION 
BETWE5 ! DEM&S ( ! ANIMAL & ( ! RATIONAL MAN1 -- HE 
SEES IT 9 ! :OLE /RUCTURE ( ! WORLD4 

,HE SEES ?AT ! WORLD1 ! MAT]IAL WORLD1 SU* AS IT IS1 IS 
NOT ONLY NOT ! BE/ ( WORLDS1 BUT1 ON ! CONTR>Y1 MI<T HAVE 
BE5 QUITE DIFF]5T1 -- ?IS IDEA IS /RIK+LY EXPRESS$ 9 
,HORLA1 -- & DOES NOT SATISFY ! DEM&S ( REASON & ( LOVE2 
HE SEES ?AT !RE IS A C]TA9 O!R WORLD1 OR AT LEA/ !RE >E 
! DEM&S = SU* A WORLD1 9 MAN'S S\L4 

,HE IS TORM5T$1 NOT ONLY BY ! IRRATIONALITY ( ! MAT]IAL 
WORLD & ! ABS5CE ( BEAUTY 9 IT1 BUT ALSO BY ITS LACK ( 
LOVE1 BY ITS DISUNION4  ,I KN[ ( NO MORE HE>TR5D+ CRY ( 
DESPAIR ( AN ]R+ MAN :O RECOGNIZES HIS LONEL9ESS1 ?AN ! 
EXPRESSION ( ?IS IDEA 9 ! EXQUISITE /ORY1 ,SOLITUDE4 

,! PH5OM5ON :I* MORE ?AN ANY O!R TORTUR$ ,MAUPASSANT1 
& TO :I* HE FREQU5TLY RETURN$1 IS ! AGONIZ+ /ATE ( 
LONEL9ESS1 ! SPIRITUAL LONEL9ESS ( A MAN1 ?AT B>RI] :I* 
/&S BETWE5 A MAN & O!RS1 ?AT B>RI] :I*1 AS HE SAYS1 IS 
FELT ! MORE PA9FULLY1 ! CLOS] ! BODILY CONTACT4 

,:AT IS IT ?AT TORTURES HIM8  ,& :AT W\LD HE HAVE8  ,:AT 
DE/ROYS ?IS B>RI]1 :AT PUTS A /OP TO ?IS LONEL9ESS8  ,LOVE1 
NOT LOVE ( WOMAN1 ( :I* HE IS TIR$1 BUT PURE1 SPIRITUAL1 
DIV9E LOVE4  & IT IS ?IS ?AT ,MAUPASSANT SEEKS2 T[>D ?IS 
SAVIOR ( LIFE1 :I* WAS LONG AGO CLE>LY REVEAL$ TO ALL1 ?AT 
HE PA9FULLY TUGS AT ! FET]S ) :I* HE FEELS HIMSELF B\ND4 

,HE IS NOT YET ABLE TO NAME :AT HE IS SEEK+1 HE DOES NOT 
WANT TO NAME IT ) HIS LIPS ALONE1 = FE> ( DEFIL+ HIS 
SANCTU>Y4  ,BUT HIS UNNAM$ /RIV+1 :I* IS EXPRESS$ BY HIS 
T]ROR 9 ! PRES5CE ( SOLITUDE1 IS SO S9C]E ?AT IT 9FECTS 
US & DRAWS US MORE P[]FULLY ?AN MANY1 V]Y MANY S]MONS ( 
LOVE1 :I* >E 5UNCIAT$ ) ! LIPS ALONE4 

,! TRAG$Y ( ,MAUPASSANT'S LIFE CONSI/S 9 ?IS1 ?AT1 
LIV+ 9 SURR\ND+S ?AT >E T]RIBLE BECAUSE ( !IR 
MON/R\SNESS & IMMORALITY1 HE BY ! =CE ( HIS TAL5T1 ?AT 
UNUSUAL LI<T :I* WAS 9 HIM1 BROKE AWAY FROM ! WORLD- 
CONCEPTION ( HIS CIRCLE1 WAS NE> TO LIB]ATION1 ALREADY BREA!D 
! AIR ( FRE$OM1 BUT1 HAV+ SP5T HIS LA/ /R5G? 9 ?IS 
/RUGGLE1 P]I%$ )\T BECOM+ FREE1 BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE 
! /R5G? TO MAKE ?IS ONE LA/ EF=T4 

,! TRAG$Y ( ?IS RU9 CONSI/S 9 ! SAME 9 :I* IT EV5 
N[ CONT9UES TO CONSI/ = ! MAJORITY ( ! SO-CALL$ M5 ( 
\R TIME4 

,M5 HAVE 9 G5]AL NEV] LIV$ )\T AN EXPLANATION ( ! 
MEAN+ ( ! LIFE !Y LIVE4  ,EV]Y:]E & AT ALL TIMES !RE 
HAVE APPE>$ ADVANC$1 HI<LY GIFT$ M51 PROPHETS1 AS !Y >E 
CALL$1 :O HAVE EXPLA9$ TO M5 ?IS MEAN+ & SIGNIFICANCE ( 
LIFE1 & AT ALL TIMES ! M5 ( ! RANK & FILE1 :O HAVE NO 
/R5G? TO MAKE ?IS MEAN+ CLE> TO !MSELVES1 HAVE FOLL[$ 
?AT EXPLANATION ( LIFE :I* !IR PROPHETS REVEAL$ TO !M4 

,?IS MEAN+ WAS EI<TE5 HUNDR$ YE>S AGO SIMPLY1 LUCIDLY1 
9DUBITABLY1 & JOY\SLY EXPLA9$ BY ,*RI/IANITY1 AS IS PROV$ 
BY ! LIFE ( ALL ?OSE :O HAVE ACCEPT$ ?IS MEAN+ & FOLL[ 
?AT GUIDE ( LIFE :I* FOLL[S FROM ?IS MEAN+4 

,BUT !RE APPE>$ M5 :O 9T]PRET$ ?IS MEAN+ 9 SU* A 
WAY ?AT IT BECAME NONS5SE4  ,& PEOPLE >E AS 9 A DILEMMA1 -- 
:E!R TO RECOGNIZE ,*RI/IANITY1 AS IT IS 9T]PRET$ BY 
,CA?OLICISM1 ,L\RDES1 ! ,POPE1 ! DOGMA ( ! SE$LESS 
CONCEPTION1 & SO =?1 OR TO LIVE ON1 BE+ GUID$ BY ! 
9/RUCTIONS ( ,R5AN & HIS LIKE1 ?AT IS1 TO LIVE )\T ANY 
GUIDANCE & COMPREH5SION ( LIFE1 SURR5D]+ !MSELVES TO 
!IR LU/S1 SO LONG AS !Y >E /RONG1 & TO !IR HABITS1 :5 
! PASSIONS HAVE SUBSID$4 

,& ! PEOPLE1 ! PEOPLE ( ! RANK & FILE1 *OOSE ONE OR 
! O!R1 SOMETIMES BO?1 AT FIR/ LIB]T9ISM1 & !N 
,CA?OLICISM4  ,& PEOPLE CONT9UE TO LIVE ?US = G5]ATIONS1 
%IELD+ !MSELVES ) DIFF]5T !ORIES1 :I* >E NOT 
9V5T$ 9 ORD] TO F9D \T ! TRU?1 BUT 9 ORD] TO CONCEAL 
IT4  ,& ! PEOPLE ( ! RANK & FILE1 ESPECIALLY ! DULL ONES 
AMONG !M1 FEEL AT EASE4 

,BUT !RE >E ALSO O!R PEOPLE1 -- !RE >E BUT A FEW ( 
!M & !Y >E F> BETWE5 -- & SU* WAS ,MAUPASSANT1 :O ) 
!IR [N EYES SEE ?+S AS !Y >E1 SEE !IR MEAN+1 SEE ! 
CONTRADICTIONS ( LIFE1 :I* >E HIDD5 FROM O!RS1 & VIVIDLY 
PRES5T TO !MSELVES ?AT TO :I* !SE CONTRADICTIONS MU/ 
9EVITABLY LEAD !M1 & SEEK = !IR SOLUTIONS 9 ADVANCE4 ,!Y 
SEEK = !M EV]Y:]E EXCEPT :]E !Y >E TO BE F\ND1 9 
,*RI/IANITY1 BECAUSE ,*RI/IANITY SEEMS TO !M TO HAVE \TLIV$ 
ITS USEFULNESS1 TO BE OBSOLETE & FOOLI% & REPELL5T BY ITS 
MON/ROSITY4  ,TRY+ 9 VA9 TO >RIVE BY !MSELVES AT !SE 
SOLUTIONS1 !Y COME TO ! CONCLUSION ?AT !RE >E NO SOLUTIONS1 
?AT ! PROP]TY ( LIFE CONSI/S 9 C>RY+ )9 ONESELF !SE 
UNSOLV$ CONTRADICTIONS4  ,HAV+ >RIV$ AT SU* A SOLUTION1 !SE 
PEOPLE1 IF !Y >E WEAK1 UN5]GETIC NATURES1 MAKE !IR PEACE 
) SU* A S5SELESS LIFE1 >E EV5 PR\D ( !IR CONDITION1 
CONSID]+ !IR LACK ( KN[L$GE TO BE A DES]T1 A SIGN ( 
CULTURE2 BUT IF !Y >E 5]GETIC1 TRU?FUL1 & TAL5T$ NATURES1 
SU* AS WAS ,MAUPASSANT1 !Y CANNOT BE> IT & 9 ONE WAY OR 
ANO!R GO \T ( ?IS 9SIPID LIFE4 

,IT IS AS ?\< ?IR/Y PEOPLE 9 ! DES]T %\LD BE LOOK+ 
EV]Y:]E = WAT]1 EXCEPT NE> ?OSE M5 :O1 /&+ NE> A 
SPR+1 POLLUTE IT & (F] ILL-SMELL+ MUD 9/EAD ( WAT]1 
:I* /ILL KEEPS ON FL[+ F>!R D[N1 BEL[ ! MUD4  
,MAUPASSANT WAS 9 ?AT POSITION2 HE C\LD NOT BELIEVE1 -- IT EV5 
NEV] OCCURR$ TO HIM ?AT ! TRU? :I* HE WAS SEEK+ HAD BE5 
DISCOV]$ LONG AGO & WAS NE> HIM2 NOR C\LD HE BELIEVE ?AT IT 
WAS POSSIBLE = A MAN TO LIVE 9 A CONTRADICTION SU* AS HE FELT 
HIMSELF TO BE LIV+ 94 

,LIFE1 ACCORD+ TO ?OSE !ORIES 9 :I* HE WAS BR\<T UP1 
:I* SURR\ND$ HIM1 & :I* W]E V]IFI$ BY ALL ! PASSIONS 
( HIS Y\?FUL & SPIRITUALLY & PHYSICALLY /RONG BE+1 
CONSI/S 9 5JOYM5T1 *IEF ( :I* IS WOMAN & ! LOVE ( H]1 
& 9 ! D\BLY REFLECT$ 5JOYM5T1 -- 9 ! REPRES5TATION ( 
?IS LOVE & ! EXCITATION ( ?IS LOVE 9 O!RS4  ,ALL ?AT 
W\LD BE V]Y WELL1 BUT1 AS WE LOOK CLOSELY AT !SE 5JOYM5TS1 WE 
SEE AMID !M APPE> PH5OM5A :I* >E QUITE ALI5 & HO/ILE 
TO ?IS LOVE & ?IS BEAUTY3 WOMAN = SOME REASON GR[S HOMELY1 
LOOKS HORRID 9 H] PREGNANCY1 BE>S A *ILD 9 NA/9ESS1 !N 
MORE *ILDR51 UNWI%$-= *ILDR51 !N DECEPTIONS1 CRUELTIES1 
!N MORAL SUFF]+S1 !N SIMPLY OLD AGE1 & F9ALLY DEA?4 

,& !N1 IS ?IS BEAUTY REALLY BEAUTY8  ,& !1 :AT IS IT 
ALL =8  ,IT W\LD BE NICE1 IF IT W]E POSSIBLE TO >RE/ LIFE4  
,BUT IT GOES ON4  ,:AT DOES IT MEAN1 -- LIFE GOES ON8  ,LIFE GOES ON1 
MEANS1 -- ! HAIR FALLS \T & GR[S GRAY1 ! TEE? DECAY1 !RE 
APPE> WR9KLES1 & !RE IS AN ODOR 9 ! M\?4  ,EV5 BE=E 
EV]Y?+ 5DS1 EV]Y?+ BECOMES T]RIBLE & DISGU/+3  Y\ 
P]CEIVE ! PA/Y PA9T & P[D]1 ! SWEAT1 !E /5*1 ! 
HOMEL9ESS4  ,:]E IS ?AT :I* ,I S]V$8  ,:]E IS BEAUTY8  ,& 
IT IS ALL4  ,IF IT IS NOT1 -- !RE IS NO?+4  ,!RE IS NO LIFE4 

,NOT ONLY IS !RE NO LIFE 9 :AT SEEM$ TO HAVE LIFE1 BUT 
Y\1 TOO1 BEG9 TO GET AWAY FROM IT1 TO GR[ FEEBLE1 TO LOOK 
HOMELY1 TO DECAY1 :ILE O!RS BE=E Y\R V]Y EYES SEIZE FROM Y\ 
?OSE PLEASURES 9 :I* WAS ! :OLE GOOD ( LIFE4  ,MORE ?AN 
?AT3  !RE BEG9S TO GL9T ! POSSIBILITY ( ANO!R LIFE1 
SOME?+ ELSE1 SOME O!R UNION ( M5 ) ! :OLE WORLD1 SU* 
AS EXCLUDES ALL ?OSE DECEPTIONS1 SOME?+ ELSE1 SOME?+ ?AT 
CANNOT BE IMPAIR$ BY ANY?+1 ?AT IS TRUE & ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL4  
,BUT ?AT CANNOT BE1 -- IT IS ONLY ! PROVOK+ SI<T ( AN OASIS1 
:5 WE KN[ ?AT IT IS NOT !RE & ?AT EV]Y?+ IS S&4 

,MAUPASSANT LIV$ D[N TO ?AT TRAGIC MOM5T ( LIFE :5 !RE 
BEGAN ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 ! LIE ( ! LIFE :I* SURR\ND$ 
HIM1 & ! TRU? :I* HE WAS BEG9N+ TO SEE4  ,HE ALREADY HAD 
SYMPTOMS ( SPIRITUAL BIR?4 

,IT IS !SE LABORS ( BIR? ?AT >E EXPRESS$ 9 HIS BE/ 
PRODUCTIONS1 ESPECIALLY 9 HIS %ORT /ORIES4 

,IF IT HAD BE5 HIS FATE NOT TO DIE 9 ! LABOR ( BIR?1 BUT 
TO BE BORN1 HE W\LD HAVE GIV5 GREAT1 9/RUCTIVE PRODUCTIONS1 BUT 
EV5 :AT HE GAVE US DUR+ ! PROCESS ( HIS BIR? IS MU*4  ,LET 
US BE GRATEFUL TO ?IS /RONG1 TRU?FUL MAN = :AT HE GAVE US4 

,FROM 3 ,WIKIS\RCE4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahic 3 ,! ,WORKS ( ,GUY ,DE ,MAUPASSANT -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JULY #c#a1 #bba 3 ,! ,WORKS ( ,GUY ,DE ,MAUPASSANT -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #i1 #bbb 3 ,! ,WORKS ( ,GUY ,DE ,MAUPASSANT -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
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