amjadiqra06@gmail.

com

MAUPASSANT’S “A PIECE OF STRING’; IN THE LIGHT OF REALISM

TENETS

Abstract:
The present paper discusses the realism in Guy De Maupassant’s story
‘A Piece of String.’ Guy De Maupassant was a famous short story writer.
He is the father of short stories. He was a French author. He was a
representative of realist school of thought. He described life as it is in
his stories. He builds up his characters with all the trait of realism
movement. His art of realism gives a realistic touch. The art of giving
minute details, and characterization of character is very beautifully
carried by Maupassant in his story ‘A Piece of String’. The current study
will figure out how the characteristics of realism is applied in the story.
Introduction:
Realism was a literary movement that began in the middle of 19 th
century. This movement first started in Italy and then spread across
Europe. Realism was actually reaction against romanticism. Realist put
aside the imaginary and fantasy-based literature. Rather, they believed
that literature must be called literature if it has true essence of real life.
In simple words, they argued that literature should depict ordinary
people in real life situation. If a literature didn’t represent real life
situations and characters than it should not be called a true literature.
Realism movement actually presents real life experiences. Realist
literature depicts the real picture of lower and middle classes of
society. It depicts how these classes are treated in the society. Literary
realism portrays life as it is without idealizing and romanticizing it.
Many realist writers produce a large variety of realistic literature. Guy
De Maupassant was one the most famous realist writer. He was a
French novelist and great short-story writer. He was an author of many
famous short stories such as ‘The Necklace’ and ‘Bel-Ami’. He was born
in 1850 and died in Paris in 1893. His writing represents the truth of life.
In order to bring reforms in his society, he depicts the world around as
it is without idealizing and romanticizing it. Through his writings, he
wants to raise awareness among people of his society. He mostly
represents middle and lower class of his society. His writing gives real
picture of life. His use of realism is the reflection of 19 th century French
society. He addresses issues and problems of common people or
ordinary man. Like in his short story ‘The Necklace’, there is a character
of a woman whose name is Mathilda. She is a girl from middle class.
She borrows necklace from her friend and lose it at ball party. She
doesn’t tell her friend that she has lost her necklace. She buys a new
necklace just like the previous one on installment. She returns the
necklace to her friend. Maupassant actually tried to tell the issue of
middle-class society that how they suffer just to survive in this cruel
society.
Same is the case with Maupassant another story ‘The piece of String’.
In this story, he gives the message that society never forget about your
sins or crimes. This mostly happens to innocent people those never
know the cruelty of this world. No matter how harder you try to make
them trust you, it won’t let you live peacefully. Society is cruel animal
which smashes all the worthy people. Society never let you apart.
Maupassant realism is peculiar like that of a person living in a real
world having wish in his mind to make a world an ideal one. He is not a
strict realist but through his writings we depict that it has a certain
element of realistic literature. His writing doesn’t have any ghost or
fairies or supernatural like things. There are no Gods appearing in his
work. They are simple human beings of a real life setting and their
characters are real person. There is each and every detail of characters
dresses, way of talking etc. in his writings which makes his writing more
realistic one.
Review of Literature:
A realist reading of Guy De Maupassant texts prove that they contain
several elements of realism. Their writing also contains social themes
and issues of common people. Many researches have been carried out
on ‘A Piece of String’, but in a comparative way. It is studied in
comparison to Katherine Anne Porter’s ‘Noon Wine’. (Schotland, 2013)
Realism actually provides a new perspective of life. Many writers use it
as a technique to bring out reforms in society. They use minute
observation, use third person narration and presents typical as well as
individual character to make their writing more realistic one. Such as
Charles Dickens’ characters are flat; they do not change and grow
psychologically under the stress of circumstances. They are same from
beginning till the end, but still, they are the fantastic creation of a fertile
imagination with great vigor and vitality. (Dr. V Anuradha, B. Swapna, D.
Manjula, K. Manisha Sharma, Dr. V. Karpagavadivu, 2022)
Research questions:
This research article is going to deal with following research questions;
1. Have all the tenets of realism movement been applicable in the
short story ‘The Piece of String’?
2. Is story ‘The Piece of String’ a realist piece art?
Aims and Objectives:
Following are the aims and objective of this research article;
1. To explore the tenets of realism in ‘The Piece of String’.
 2. To figure out ‘The Piece of String’ a realist piece of art.
Data Analysis:
Every movement have certain characteristics. These characteristics can
be followed by different writers in their writings. Same is the case with
realism movement. Realist writers follow certain elements of realistic
movement to make their piece of writing more realistic one. In the
coming paragraphs, we will discuss what are these tents and how Guy
De Maupassant applies it in his story ‘A Piece of String’.
“A Piece of String” is a story about an innocent man whose name is
Maître Hauchecome. He has an enemy whose name is M. Malandain.
One day, Maître Hauchecome was going on his way when he suddenly
found a piece of string on the ground. When he picked it, M. Malandain
saw him at his door step. He quickly put it in his pocket and leave from
that area. At the evening, he was arrested because he had an
accusation of stealing a black pocket book having five hundred Francs
from his enemy. He tried to prove his innocence but nobody listened to
him. On the very next day, in the afternoon, a pocket book was found
by a man. But every one thought that he was a real thief. He tried hard
to convince the people but thy called him rascal. At the end he died
while saying “a little bit of string- a little bit of string-see, here it is,
M’seiu’ le Maire”

 Point of view:

Most of the realist writers used omniscient narration or objective

narration. Omniscient narration means writer should not be
involved in story. In simple words, writer used 3rd person
narration. Most of the realist stories contains 3rd person
narration.3rd person narration is often successful because in this
type of narration there is no chance for the writer to be biased. 3 rd
person narration actually gives advantage to the writer because
he is not bound to present in story. He can write the story without
affecting the characters of story. He can objectively portray the
character.
‘A Piece of String’ is uttered in 3rd person narration. Writer is not
physically involved in the story the story. The narrator of the story
is not the character of the story. Moreover, narrator is an outsider
who can read the minds of characters. There are several incidents
in the story which shows that story is in 3rd person narration. As in
the six paragraphs of the story, narrator opens his first main
character, Maître Hauchecorne.
“Maître Hauchecorne, of Breaute, had just arrived at Goderville,

and was taking his way towards the square.”

This shows that narrators of the story actually talk about

characters without involving in the story. Then there is another
incident in the story when the corporal entered in the dinning
room and asked for Maître Hauchecorne.
‘They were finishing their coffee when the corporal of gendarmes
appeared on the threshold.
“Is Maître Hauchecorne, of Breaute, here?”
Maître Hauchecorne, seated at the other end of the table,
answered:
“Here I am.”
And the corporal resumed;
“Maître Hauchecorne, will you have the kindness to come with me
to the mayor’s office? M. le Maire would like to speak to you.”’
 This incident shows that narrator is telling the story while sitting
on somewhere else. He is objective throughout the story.
 Characters:
The characters of realist literature are individual as well as typical.
They are Flat characters who don’t change throughout the story.
Like if the character is shepherd, he should behave like a shepherd
and also dress like shepherd. In simple words if a character is a
police man, he should act like a police man and obey law and
remain honest towards his duty. This shows his typical trait.
Similarly, a realist character should also be individual. He should
also have its thoughts and way of things without considering his
rank.
In ‘A Piece of String’ there are two major characters. They are
individual as well as type. Also, they are flat one. The protagonist
of the story is Maître Hauchecome. He was accused of stealing a
pocket book with five hundred francs and some business paper.
He was suddenly ruined by injustice. From the beginning of the
story, he condemned this accusation on him. As in the beginning
he says;
“For all that, it is the truth of the good God, the blessed truth,
M’sieu, le Maire. There, on my soul and my salvation I repeat it.”
Even at the end of the story, when he died his last words are the
words for his justification. As in the end, he protested his
innocence, repeating.
“A little bit of string_a little bit of string_see, here it is, M’sieu’ le
Maire.”
This shows that he remains firm on his saying. He tried hard to
prove it. He doesn’t change his decision at the end of the story.
 He is a flat character who behave same from beginning to the
end.

Another character is Maître Malandain, He is the antagonist of the

story. He had a fight on sone issue with Maître Hauchecome. He
kept grudge in himself from that incident. He trapped Maître
Hauchecome. He saw him while picking up the piece of string. He
said to the mayor that he pic up the pocket book. As in the story,
when countryman told him;
“You were seen.”
“They saw me, me? Who is that who saw me?”
“M. Malandain, The harness-maker.”
Even at the end of the story, M. Malandain has no guilty or
ashamed of his act. As in the end, the writer tells us that;
‘Malandain, standing on his door step, began to laugh as he saw
him pass. Why?”
This shows that he remains the same throughout the story.
Hence, he is also a flat character. Then they are some other minor
characters in the story. They are the Mait Anthime, a horse
dealer, Mait Jourdain, the innkeeper, Maître Fortune, the owner
of the pocket book, and Marius Paumelle, a one who found the
pocket book.
 Minute Details:
Realist writers did not hesitate to give a picture of each and every
thing. In realist literature, writer gives minute details about their
characters. They even talk about their way of dressing, walking,
and speaking. They give each and every detail about their
characters. This characteristic of realism makes a piece of writing
more realistic and closer to the reality. Writers even talks about
their character’s manner of eating and acting in different
situations. For this purpose, realist writers use psygnomies. They
even talk about their physical features and gives detail about
them.
In ‘A Piece of Sting’, Guy De Maupassant uses this technique very
beautifully. He gives each and every detail about hi characters as
well as what is going on around them. At the very start of the
story, he gives a minute detail of men coming towards the town.
“The men walked easily, lurching the whole body forward at every
step. Their long legs were twisted and deformed by the slow,
painful labors of the country; -by bending over to plough, which is
what also makes their left shoulders too high and their figures
crook- it ed; and by reaping corn, which obliges them for
steadiness’ sake to spread their knees too wide. Their starched
blue blouses, shinning as though varnished, ornamented at collar
and cuffs with little patterns of white stitch-work, and blown up
big around their bony bodies, seemed exactly like balloons about
to soar, but putting forth a head, two arms, and two feet.”
He even gives a detail about the women who is bargaining in the
market.
“The women, having placed their great basket at their feet, had
pulled out the poultry, which lay upon the ground, tied by the legs,
with eyes scared, with combs scarlet.”
He also gives a clear picture of the dining room.
“Just opposite to where the diners were at the table the huge fire
place, full of clear flame, threw a lively heat on the back of those
who sat along the right.”
 Themes:
Realist literature emerges when societies were in trouble. As
realist literature is the one near to the reality, so their themes are
also related to the real-life problems. Realist writer most of the
time talks about various social issues. Themes of realist literature
are social. Like social hierarchy, social evils, desire to reform
society etc. The purpose of realist literature is to bring reforms in
society. For this purpose, realist writers have to target the social
issues. That’s why their themes are social.
In the story ‘A Piece of String’ Maupassant show a conflict of man
vs man and man vs society. The conflict of man vs man is seen
when Maître Hauchecorne was accused of stealing a pocket book
having five hundred Francs and business papers by his enemy
Maître Malandain. The conflict of man vs society is seen when
people were making fun of Maître Hauchecome and blaming him
for stealing pocket book. But he remains stick to his saying and try
harder to prove his innocence.
In this story, Maupassant gives a theme that once you are
accused you can never be innocent towards society. In this era,
even rumors are fastly spread. Once you are accused of any small
crime you will never remain innocent in the eye of society. Society
is cruel. No matter how many justifications you gave to them they
always blame you for your unacted act. It remains with you when
you are with it. Maître Hauchecome was wrongly accused of
stealing a pocket book by his enemy. Even after his innocence was
proof, people still thought that he was a real thief. As they said to
him,
“Yo old rogue, va”
 Even when he tries to tell him the truth, they said to him,
‘Get out, get out you old scamp; I know all about your string”
At the end, he died because once he said in the story,
“What grieved me was not the thing itself, do you understand; but
it was the lies. There’s nothing does you so much harm as being in
disgrace for lying’

In this story there is also a theme of social injustice. Justice is a

foundation of every state. Without justice, society dies. When M.
Hauchecome was accused for stealing a black pocket book, he
was arrested without authentic proof. Only because he was
witnessed by his enemy, he was blamed of stealing a black pocket
book. As when he asked from the officer,
“They saw me, me? Who is that who saw me?”
“M. Malandain, The harness-maker.”
 Setting:
In realist literature, urban setting of the stories is seen. The story
happens in an urban environment. The cities are the main setting
for realist literature.
In the story, “A Piece of String’, there is an urban setting. All the
events of story are happening in the city. The setting of this story
is at Goderville. Writer tells us that it was a market day and
people are busy in their works.
‘In the market place at Goderville was a great crowd, a mingled
multitude of men and beast.”
Conclusion:
 Guy De Maupassant uses all the elements of realism in his short
story ‘A Piece of String’. He very realistically portrays all of his
characters. His art of handling a character is marvelous. Realist
movement, which started in France, has a very great influence on
his writings. His stories contain true essence of realism. His way of
portraying characters, and giving minute details gives us a clue
that his writings are the realistic one. He use of third person
narration gives a clear picture of reality. His use of urban setting is
a great decision to make the story more realistic. He presents a
social theme in the story and discusses the major problems of
societies. His stories are noble one. This means that his stories are
applicable on each and every society.
References:
Butt, D. R. (n.d.). A Selection of Shortstories and Once-act Play For B.A
Students. Lahore: Carvan Book House-Lahore.
Doss, K. (2021, september 29). study.com. Retrieved from
https://study.com/learn/lesson/realism-art-movement-
examples.html.
Dr. V Anuradha, B. Swapna, D. Manjula, K. Manisha Sharma, Dr. V.
Karpagavadivu. (2022). Realism in Dickens' Novel. International
Journal Of Special Education, 7.
Dr. V.Anuradha. (n.d.).
http://www.horrormasters.com. (2016, october 10). Retrieved from
https://www.cdschools.org/cms/lib04/pa09000075/centricity/do
main/468/the_piece_of_string.pdf.
Schotland, S. (2013). Ostracism andthe Guilty Conscience: A
Comparison of Guy De Maupassant's "A Piece of String" and
 Katherine Anne Porter's "Noon Wine". ANQ A Quarterly Journal of
Short Articles Notes and Reviews.