Magnetism Page #2

"Magnetism" is a short story by Guy de Maupassant that explores themes of obsession, mental influence, and the complexities of human emotions. The narrative centers around a young woman who becomes entranced by a magnetizer, an enigmatic figure who claims to possess the ability to manipulate thoughts and feelings through a mysterious connection. As the story unfolds, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, leading to an intense examination of desire, power, and the psychological effects of manipulation. Maupassant’s masterful storytelling delves into the darker aspects of human nature, inviting readers to reflect on the thin line between attraction and control.

• Short story

								


“And three times that night I had the same dream.

“When the day dawned she haunted me, possessed me, filled my senses to such an extent that I was not one second without thinking of her.

“At last, not knowing what to do, I dressed myself and went to call on her. As I went upstairs to her apartment, I was so overcome by emotion that I trembled, and my heart beat rapidly.

“I entered the apartment. She rose the moment she heard my name mentioned; and suddenly our eyes met in a peculiar fixed gaze.

“I sat down. I stammered out some commonplaces which she seemed not to hear. I did not know what to say or do. Then, abruptly, clasping my arms round her, my dream was realized so suddenly that I began to doubt whether I was really awake. We were friends after this for two years.”

“What conclusion do you draw from it?” said a voice.

The story-teller seemed to hesitate.

“The conclusion I draw from it—well, by Jove, the conclusion is that it was just a coincidence! And then—who can tell? Perhaps it was some glance of hers which I had not noticed and which came back that night to me through one of those mysterious and unconscious—recollections that often bring before us things ignored by our own consciousness, unperceived by our minds!”

“Call it whatever you like,” said one of his table companions, when the story was finished; “but if you don’t believe in magnetism after that, my dear boy, you are an ungrateful fellow!”
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