Minuet by Guy de Maupassant Summary

De Maupassant was a prolific writer during the middle of the 19th century. Like many other Romantic writers, de Maupassant tends to define his characters by a single, powerful passion which can have the effect of creating an impressive character that, nonetheless, lacks a realistic depth. His literary career was cut short at a young age when he died of a sexual disease.

The narrator begins the story by noting that the death of a child or a parent is the greatest pain a person can feel, but those pains eventually go away. Other, more subtle tragedies can remain fresh for a lifetime. The narrator recalls the misfortune of witnessing such a tragedy as a young man studying law. While on an early morning walk—which is his custom—he spies an old...