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Post by wireman on May 25, 2022 12:05:06 GMT
Today we will discuss Diary Of A Madman by Guy de Maupassant
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Post by wireman on May 25, 2022 15:18:39 GMT
This is a simple but disturbing story that is about how we don't really know people like we think we do. Being a figure of prominence in the community, it is very easy for the judge to get away with his crimes.
This line is interesting
“And then I did as assassins do—real ones. I washed the scissors, I washed my hands..."
The judge doesn't seem to consider himself a real killer
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Post by wireman on May 25, 2022 15:21:56 GMT
I read that the author has over 250 movie credits (story based on). Almost twice as many as Twain & Hemingway combined and probably more than any of the classic era authors.
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Post by spideyman on May 25, 2022 16:14:40 GMT
The phrase "Don't judge a book by it's cover" come to mind when thinking about the judge's character. Upstanding to the community, but hidden within is a totally different person. Enjoyed the story.
The Diary of A Madman is an 1885 short story by Guy de Maupassant. It has been adapted into a radio play as an episode of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
Interesting facts about author:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant
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Post by edwardjohn on May 25, 2022 19:45:35 GMT
Really thought provoking, enjoyable story from De Maupassant. One of the main themes for me, as mentioned by Spidey, is the idea of contrast. The contrast of the judge actually being an agent of murder; compare the description of the judge in the beginning to what he does. Contrast and hypocrisy. The judge uses the hypocrisy of how we treat different people that take life; society praises one group for it, but condemns the other. And there's irony as well, the irony that the man that did the deed is charged with condemning others. And then the horror of it all comes to fruition at the end when we consider the beginning. The judge is a respected man even when he's gone, despite his actions.
I love this section, expertly written:
26th June. Why then is it a crime to kill? Yes, why? On the contrary, it is the law of nature. The mission of every being is to kill; he kills to live, and he kills to kill. The beast kills without ceasing, all day, every instant of his existence. Man kills without ceasing, to nourish himself; but since he needs, besides, to kill for pleasure, he has invented hunting! The child kills the insects he finds, the little birds, all the little animals that come in his way. But this does not suffice for the irresistible need to massacre that is in us. It is not enough to kill beasts; we must kill man too. Long ago this need was satisfied by human sacrifices. Now the requirements of social life have made murder a crime. We condemn and punish the assassin! But as we cannot live without yielding to this natural and imperious instinct of death, we relieve ourselves, from time to time, by wars. Then a whole nation slaughters another nation. It is a feast of blood, a feast that maddens armies and that intoxicates civilians, women and children, who read, by lamplight at night, the feverish story of massacre.
One might suppose that those destined to accomplish these butcheries of men would be despised! No, they are loaded with honors. They are clad in gold and in resplendent garments; they wear plumes on their heads and ornaments on their breasts, and they are given crosses, rewards, titles of every kind. They are proud, respected, loved by women, cheered by the crowd, solely because their mission is to shed human blood; They drag through the streets their instruments of death, that the passer-by, clad in black, looks on with envy. For to kill is the great law set by nature in the heart of existence! There is nothing more beautiful and honorable than killing!
30th June. To kill is the law, because nature loves eternal youth. She seems to cry in all her unconscious
acts: "Quick! quick! quick!" The more she destroys, the more she renews herself ...
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Post by edwardjohn on May 25, 2022 19:47:13 GMT
I read that the author has over 250 movie credits (story based on). Almost twice as many as Twain & Hemingway combined and probably more than any of the classic era authors.
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Post by edwardjohn on May 25, 2022 19:48:43 GMT
The phrase "Don't judge a book by it's cover" come to mind when thinking about the judge's character. Upstanding to the community, but hidden within is a totally different person. Enjoyed the story.
The Diary of A Madman is an 1885 short story by Guy de Maupassant. It has been adapted into a radio play as an episode of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
Interesting facts about author:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant
With a natural aversion to society, he loved retirement, solitude, and meditation. He traveled extensively in Algeria, Italy, England, Brittany, Sicily, Auvergne, and from each voyage brought back a new volume. He cruised on his private yacht Bel-Ami, named after his novel. This life did not prevent him from making friends among the literary celebrities of his day: Alexandre Dumas, fils had a paternal affection for him; at Aix-les-Bains he met Hippolyte Taine and became devoted to the philosopher-historian.
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Post by wireman on May 27, 2022 15:16:50 GMT
Lets try another one from Guy de Maupassant
Next Wednesday's discussion will be: On The River by Guy de Maupassant
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Post by edwardjohn on May 27, 2022 16:12:26 GMT
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Post by edwardjohn on May 27, 2022 16:16:20 GMT
Lets try another one from Guy de Maupassant
Next Wednesday's discussion will be: On The River by Guy de Maupassant
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Post by wireman on May 27, 2022 16:26:13 GMT
Lets try another one from Guy de Maupassant
Next Wednesday's discussion will be: On The River by Guy de Maupassant
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I don't know. I can't find anything that answers that question. If his work is translated, it's an amazing job.
It's funny he's on the American Literature website. |
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Post by wireman on May 27, 2022 16:28:29 GMT
Lets try another one from Guy de Maupassant
Next Wednesday's discussion will be: On The River by Guy de Maupassant
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There is this line in his bio
His most famous work for English readers is probably The Necklace.
Maybe he wrote in both languages.
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