The Marquis de Fumerol

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"The Marquis de Fumerol"
Short story by Guy de Maupassant
Original titleLe Marquis de Fumerol
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Genre(s)Short story, Satire
Publication
Published inGil Blas
Publication typeNewspaper
Media typePrint
Publication dateJanuary 17, 1887

"The Marquis de Fumerol" (French: "Le Marquis de Fumerol") is a short story by French author Guy de Maupassant, first published in the newspaper Gil Blas on January 17, 1887. [1] The story is a satirical commentary on the clash between religious tradition and secular values in 19th-century France.

Contents

Plot summary

The story is narrated by Roger de Tourneville, who recounts the events surrounding the death of his uncle, the Marquis de Fumerol. The Marquis, an atheist and republican, is dying, and Roger's parents are determined to have him receive the last rites to avoid scandal.

Roger, his mother, and a priest named Abbe Poivron attempt to visit the dying Marquis. They encounter various obstacles, including the Marquis's servant Melanie and two young women who are with him. Despite their efforts, the Marquis initially refuses to see the priest.

The situation becomes farcical when a Protestant minister also attempts to visit the Marquis, leading to a comical confrontation. Eventually, the Marquis dies, and Roger's mother believes he recognized her in his final moments.

The story concludes with a grand funeral for the Marquis, complete with speeches praising his return to faith, despite the reality of the situation. [2]

Themes

"The Marquis de Fumerol" explores several themes:

Literary significance and reception

The story is considered one of Maupassant's satirical masterpieces, showcasing his wit and keen observation of societal norms. It exemplifies his ability to blend humor with social commentary, a characteristic that made him one of the most popular short story writers of his time. [4]

Publication history

"The Marquis de Fumerol" was first published in the newspaper Gil Blas on January 17, 1887. It was later included in Maupassant's short story collection "La Main gauche" in 1889. The story has since been republished in various collections and as a standalone work. [5]

Adaptations

Television

The story was adapted for an episode of the Indian television series "Katha Sagar" (translation: "A Sea of Stories"), which aired on DD National in 1986. The episode, titled "Zamana" (meaning "Era" or "Times" in Hindi), was directed by A. Salam and based on "The Marquis de Fumerol". "Katha Sagar" featured adaptations of stories by various international authors, including Katherine Mansfield, Leo Tolstoy, O. Henry, and Anton Chekhov. [6] [ circular reference ]

Other media

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References

  1. ↑ "The Marquis de Fumerol". Classic Shorts. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  2. ↑ "The Marquis de Fumerol". Goodreads. Retrieved 2023-09-18. [self-published]
  3. ↑ "The Marquis de Fumerol". Sked Books. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  4. ↑ The Marquis de Fumerol. Read Books Ltd. 2016. ISBN   9781473360303.
  5. ↑ "The Marquis de Fumerol (World Classics)". Amazon. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  6. ↑ "Katha Sagar". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  7. ↑ "The Marquis de Fumerol". Storytel. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  8. ↑ "Marquis de Fumerol from Tales of Guy de Maupassant". McNay Art Museum. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
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