SUMMARY
Guy De Maupassant “The Kiss” is a very short story that written in the form of letters. This short story tells about the young niece who is having difficulties in her marriage wants an advice from her old aunt. Her aunt can admit that at her age. She replays the letter and explains about the power of women in the world. Actually women have weapon, formidable, and invincible that is love. Women are the mistresses of the world. If women can not take care with her power, they will have problems. The real power of the women is ‘The Kiss”. The kiss is the supreme limit of happiness. Her aunt noticed that her niece is very clumsy, so she loses her authority by abusing the kiss with untimely kisses. Her aunt gives advices that don’t kiss your husband in public. An ill-placed kiss may do any amount of harm.
CHARACTER
1. The young niece: the receive of the letter
2. The old aunt- Collette: the sender of the letter
SUBJECT : The Kiss
THEME : An ill-placed kiss does any amount of harm
SYMBOL : The Kiss
In this short story, Guy De Maupassant writes the word ‘Kiss” in many sentences. I think the kiss is a symbol of love. When we don’t love someone, we will not kiss them. In this short story, the young woman gives the kiss to her husband to show her love. Then the young woman gives untimely kisses, so she loses their authority. The kiss refers to love; firstly it is delicious and gives happiness, but more and more will be common or may be bored.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
I interest with one of figurative language in this short story “Allusion”. Allusion is a reference made to another literary works, historical event, works of art, or a famous person’s quote that adds more depth the story/author’s meaning. Guy De Maupassant give allusion such as Delila, Judith in the bible; Omphale, Helen in the fable; and Cleopatra in history the Sabines. Actually the author used them to add more depth the story. That is to give explanation that woman has great power in the world “love”. If women can use this weapon, they will be able to overthrow of empires.
Delila in the bible is a prostitute who is paid by Filistin that can seduce Samson to ask about the secret of his strength. Finally he become feeble because of his love. Omphale in fable is the queen of Lydia. Cleopatra is the queen of Egypt. It means that women can become leader as a man.
Beside the character above, Guy De Maupassant used the poem to give understanding such as Sully-Prudhomme’s poet and Francois Coppe’s poet. The author used them to give more information about the kiss. The kiss is women’s strongest weapon, but women must take care not to dull it.
OPPINION
This short story is interesting because the style that used in this short story is different with other. Many figurative language that used in this short story, especially allusion. Allusion makes me more interest with this short story because it give more information or understanding about the story. Beside that the form (letter form) of this short story is unique. I think this short story is perfect, although one of the elements can not appear such us the setting.