Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

2nd Semester A.Y. 2023-2024 Note: Unfortunately, I didn't have internet
World Literature access on the day I was supposed to turn in
GEC 10 – 0A my Critique paper. I apologize, sir, I’ll
understand deductions.

A Literary Critique
By: Princess Therese Paris Buere
“A Piece of String, Guy De Maupassant” - Moralist Approach

Guy de Maupassant a French writer whose short tale "A Piece of String" was
published and one of his mostly known works. The first edition came out in 1883. The
narrative illustrates how social classes can be classified and how individuals are perceived
and how prejudices lead to an oppressive society. The author is acknowledged for short
stories that address the gaps in treatment between various social classes. The narrative of
Maupassant serves as a criticism of society's perspectives, human conduct, and the
temptation to conclude from hasty observations.

A miserly and thrifty peasant in a small French village named Hauchecorne opens the story
by crouching down to pick up a bit of thread he discovers on the road. He is unaware that
Malandain, a town resident, is watching the event and thinks Hauchecorne has found a
misplaced wallet. As a consequence of Malandain's word-of-mouth propagation,
Hauchecorne is suspected of swiping the pocketbook. Disregarding the gossip,
Hauchecorne proceeds with his daily activities. When others start to regard him with
mistrust and suspicion, though, he gets confused and upset. Talk about how he simply
picked up a piece of string and how he proposes only to help sustain the rumor mill. As
things become worse, Hauchecorne gets more and more driven to clear his name.
Regretfully, despite his dying breath, the rumor lingers and all his efforts are in insufficient.
Even if the real owner of the pocketbook turns out to be identified, Hauchecorne's
reputation ceases forever.

The main character in the narrative is Maitre Hauchecorne. After picking up the bit of string,
he became known as an easygoing individual and a peasant; he was speculated about
stealing, which tarnished his reputation in the neighborhood. The main character is himself.
Assuming to see Maitre Hauchecorne pick up the pocketbook from the floor, Maitre
Malandain, the antagonist of the tale, accuses the latter of being a thief.

Societal Norms - The narrative offers a societal reflection on the detrimental effects of
speculations and the prejudicial assessment of another.
Realism - The plot does not have a tidy, joyful conclusion. The messy and unpredictable
nature of real life is instead reflected in it.

Tragically, the piece reveals that it is very difficult to redeem one's reputation in the eyes
of the public once they have been tarnished by suspicion. "A Piece of String" essentially
examines the hideous consequences of a minor misperception in a community that is
tightly connected, the brittleness of reputations, and the devastating power of rumors.

BSOA – 3A
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

04 SEATWORK

1. What is A Piece of String About?

• the narrative that centers on the fallout from an incident that at first glance seems
insignificant. The story centers on Hauchecorne, a thrifty peasant in a tiny French
community. Maitre Hauchecorne and Maitre Malandain are the characters assigned
to the right profession at a specific location and time. Within an integrated
neighborhood, it addresses concerns regarding gossip, the damaging effects of
rumors, and the severe repercussions of erroneous accusations.

2. How can you relate this story to the contemporary times?

• The public's perception is decisively affected by social media sites and the internet.
In the digital era, the dissemination of false information and fake news can have an
important bearing on people's lives. The possibility of benign deeds being
misinterpreted is illustrated by Hauchecorne's experience, and it is made worse in a
society where falsehood is easily propagated.

3. What is the moral of the story?

• The moral of the story serves as an example of facing things with an open mind and
an eagerness to seek the truth. It also points out that readers to be mindful of the
influence of their words and actions and stop making hasty assumptions based on
insufficient information. Disseminating deceptive details without conducting due
diligence can have detrimental effects on one's image and quality of life.

4. What do you think is the value of honesty?

• The basic description states that it is the cornerstone of honesty, decency, and moral
conduct, fostering stronger bonds, more fruitful conversations, and long-term
prosperity. Upon reading the piece, honest people typically possess a high sense of
self-respect. A person can preserve a positive sense of themselves and their
authenticity by being honest to them and to others.

BSOA – 3A