About the Author: Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was one of the greatest French writers and a master of the short story form:
- Prolific writer: Created over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and a volume of verse
- Master of short stories: Considered one of the finest short story writers in world literature
- International recognition: His work was studied by famous writers like Leo Tolstoy, who wrote an essay about Maupassant's works
- Famous stories: "The Diamond Necklace" is one of his most well-known stories
- Literary influence: His realistic style and psychological insight influenced many later writers
- Brief but impactful career: Despite his short life, he left a lasting mark on literature
Maupassant was known for his realistic portrayal of human nature and his ability to reveal deep truths about society through simple stories.
Story Summary
"A Piece of String" tells the story of Maitre Hauchecome, an honest peasant who picks up a piece of string from the ground on market day in Goderville. Unfortunately, his enemy Malandain sees him and later falsely accuses him of picking up a lost pocketbook containing 500 francs. Despite Hauchecome's protests and even after the real pocketbook is found and returned, the villagers continue to suspect him. The false accusation destroys his reputation and peace of mind, ultimately leading to his death from the stress and shame of being wrongly judged.
Character Analysis
Maitre Hauchecome
- Honest peasant who believes in picking up useful things
- Proud man who values his reputation and honor
- Victim of false accusation and social prejudice
- Obsessed with proving innocence to the point of mental breakdown
Malandain (the harness-maker)
- Hauchecome's enemy with a personal grudge
- False accuser who either mistakes or deliberately lies about what he saw
- Represents malicious gossip and the power of false testimony
The Mayor
- Authority figure who should seek truth but relies on assumptions
- Represents flawed justice system that favors reputation over evidence
- Pompous and self-important in his manner of speaking
The Villagers
- Represent society's tendency to believe gossip over truth
- Enjoy the scandal and entertainment at Hauchecome's expense
- Symbolize how communities can destroy individuals through prejudice
Detailed Answers to "While We Read" Questions
a. Why were the peasants and their wives coming to the town?
The peasants and their wives were coming to Goderville because it was market day. They brought their animals (cows and calves) to sell and came to buy and sell goods, which was a regular social and economic activity for rural communities.
b. How does Hauchecome behave when he notices Malandain watching him?
When Hauchecome notices Malandain watching him pick up the string, he:
- Feels shame at being seen by his enemy
- Quickly conceals the string in his trouser pocket
- Pretends to be looking for something else on the ground
- Shows embarrassment about his thrifty habit of picking up useful items
c. 'He concealed his find quickly in his trousers pocket.' What does the word 'find' refer to in this sentence?
The word 'find' refers to the piece of string that Hauchecome picked up from the ground. He considered it a useful discovery worth keeping, which reflects his practical, thrifty nature as a peasant.
d. What did the peasants discuss at the tavern?
At the tavern, the peasants discussed:
- Their crops and how the weather was affecting them
- The weather being good for green vegetables but not for wheat
- Their purchases and sales from the market
- General farming and business matters
e. What did the public crier announce?
The public crier announced that:
- A black leather pocketbook was lost that morning between 9 and 10 o'clock
- The pocketbook contained 500 francs and some business papers
- It was lost on the road to Goderville
- Anyone who found it should return it to the Mayor's office
- There would be a reward of 20 francs for its return
f. Why did the Mayor summon Hauchecome to his office?
The Mayor summoned Hauchecome because Malandain had reported that he saw Hauchecome pick up the lost pocketbook on the road. The Mayor wanted to question him about the accusation and recover the stolen money.
g. Why did Hauchecome feel terrified?
Hauchecome felt terrified because:
- He was being falsely accused of theft
- His honest reputation was being questioned
- He realized the serious consequences of being suspected of stealing 500 francs
- He understood that people might not believe his innocence
- The accusation could ruin his standing in the community
h. What did the Mayor say when Hauchecome showed him the piece of string?
The Mayor was incredulous (disbelieving) and shook his head. He said he wouldn't believe that Malandain, who was "a man worthy of credence" (trustworthy), would mistake a piece of string for a pocketbook. The Mayor also claimed that after picking up the object, Hauchecome had looked around in the mud as if searching for fallen money.
i. How did the people react when Hauchecome told his story about the piece of string?
The people reacted negatively:
- No one believed him
- They laughed at him mockingly
- They called him names like "Old rascal"
- They told him to "get out"
- Even when he showed his empty pockets as proof, they remained skeptical
- They treated him as if he were guilty
j. Why did the person who found the pocketbook take it to his employer?
The person who found the pocketbook took it to his employer because he couldn't read. Since he was illiterate, he needed someone who could read to help him understand what he had found and what to do with it.
k. Did the people believe Hauchecome's story after the pocketbook was found? Give reasons.
No, the people still didn't believe Hauchecome even after the pocketbook was found. Their reasons included:
- They thought he had used an accomplice to return the pocketbook
- They believed he had stolen it first and then arranged for someone else to "find" it
- They enjoyed the scandal and entertainment of his situation
- Once suspicion was cast, they preferred to believe in his guilt rather than admit they were wrong
- They said things like "there is one that finds and there is one that reports"
l. 'At any rate you are mixed up with it.' What did the horse dealer mean by the statement?
The horse dealer meant that regardless of whether Hauchecome actually stole the pocketbook or not, he was somehow involved in the whole affair. The dealer was suggesting that Hauchecome was either:
- The original thief who arranged for its return
- Involved in some conspiracy with the person who "found" it
- At minimum, connected to the incident in a suspicious way
m. What was the impact of the injustice of the suspicion on Hauchecome?
The impact was devastating:
- He felt ashamed and indignant
- He was choking with anger and confusion
- His innocence was impossible to prove, which tormented him
- He was "stricken to the heart" by the injustice
- His mind began to weaken from the constant stress
- He became obsessed with telling his story and proving his innocence
- The mental anguish eventually made him physically ill
- He took to his bed and died from the stress
n. What were Hauchecome's last words? Explain their significance.
Hauchecome's last words were: "A piece of string, a piece of string, look–here it is, Your Honour, the Mayor."
Significance:
- He died still trying to prove his innocence
- The string had become a symbol of his entire ordeal
- Even in delirium, he was addressing the Mayor, showing how the false accusation haunted him
- His obsession with proving the truth had consumed his final moments
- It shows the tragic power of false accusations to destroy a person's peace, even unto death
- The repetition emphasizes how this simple object had become the center of his ruined life
Answers to "Let's Rewind" Questions
1. Have you had a similar experience of being misunderstood by others?
This is a personal reflection question. Students should think about times when:
- Their good intentions were misinterpreted
- Someone made false assumptions about their actions
- They were blamed for something they didn't do
- Their reputation was damaged by gossip or misunderstanding
- They struggled to prove their innocence
Students can describe how it felt and what they learned from the experience.
2. Does Malandain actually believe that Hauchecome took the pocketbook? Give reasons.
Likely No - Malandain probably doesn't truly believe Hauchecome took the pocketbook:
Evidence suggesting Malandain knows the truth:
- He and Hauchecome are enemies, suggesting personal motivation
- He was watching Hauchecome from his doorway, showing he was looking for trouble
- His immediate reporting suggests malicious intent rather than civic duty
- He continues to laugh at Hauchecome even after the truth comes out
Malandain's possible motivations:
- Personal revenge against his enemy
- Enjoying the power of his false accusation
- Desire to see Hauchecome humiliated
- Unwillingness to admit his mistake once the lie began
3. Write a short paragraph on Hauchecome's sense of honor and dignity.
Maitre Hauchecome possessed a deep sense of honor and dignity that ultimately became both his strength and his downfall. His immediate shame at being seen picking up the string by his enemy reveals his pride and concern for his reputation. When falsely accused, his honor compelled him to fight for his innocence rather than simply accepting the injustice. His refusal to let the matter rest, even after the pocketbook was found, demonstrates his unwavering commitment to truth and his belief that his good name was worth defending. However, this same sense of honor became an obsession that consumed him. He could not bear the thought that others questioned his integrity, and his dignity would not allow him to ignore the whispers and suspicions. In the end, his honor was so central to his identity that when it was destroyed by false accusation, he could not survive the loss. His final words show that even in death, he was still fighting to restore his dignity and prove his innocence.
Key Themes
1. The Power of False Accusations
- How quickly rumors can spread and destroy lives
- The difficulty of proving innocence once accused
- The lasting damage to reputation and mental health
2. Social Prejudice and Judgment
- How communities can turn against individuals
- The tendency to believe gossip over truth
- The entertainment value people find in others' misfortune
3. Honor and Reputation
- The importance of personal integrity in rural communities
- How reputation affects social standing and self-worth
- The tragic consequences when honor is questioned
4. Justice vs. Truth
- The flaws in systems that rely on testimony over evidence
- How authority figures can make wrong decisions
- The gap between legal justice and moral truth
5. The Destructive Nature of Obsession
- How the need to prove innocence can become consuming
- The psychological damage of being unable to clear one's name
- The tragic irony of truth becoming irrelevant
Literary Techniques
1. Irony
- Dramatic irony: readers know Hauchecome is innocent
- Situational irony: his honesty leads to his downfall
- The irony that finding the pocketbook doesn't clear his name
2. Symbolism
- The string represents simple honesty and thrift
- The pocketbook symbolizes greed and materialism
- The market square represents public judgment
3. Character Development
- Hauchecome's transformation from confident to broken
- The community's shift from neutral to hostile
4. Realistic Setting
- Detailed description of rural French life
- Authentic dialogue and social customs
- Believable character motivations
Social Commentary
Maupassant uses this story to criticize:
- Small-town mentality and its destructive gossip
- Prejudice and assumption rather than seeking truth
- The power of false testimony in communities
- How society can destroy innocent individuals
- The failure of authority to protect the innocent
Relevance Today
The story remains relevant because:
- Social media can spread false accusations instantly
- Cancel culture shows how reputations can be destroyed overnight
- Cyberbullying demonstrates the same community persecution
- Fake news shows how lies can become accepted truth
- Court of public opinion often judges before facts are established
Moral Lessons
- Don't judge others hastily - seek truth before forming opinions
- Consider the power of your words - false accusations can destroy lives
- Stand up for the innocent - don't join mob mentality
- Value truth over entertainment - don't enjoy others' misfortune
- Sometimes letting go is healthier - obsessing over injustice can be self-destructive