The Horla

The Horla is a novella written by Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1886 (a shorter version) and then again in 1887 (the more widely known, longer version). It is a psychological horror story told in the form of a diary. The protagonist, whose name is never revealed, suffers from increasingly disturbing visions and experiences which lead him to believe that he is being haunted, or possessed, by an invisible, parasitic being he names "the Horla."

The story explores themes of madness, paranoia, xenophobia, and the fragility of the human mind. The protagonist meticulously documents his decline into irrationality, oscillating between moments of lucidity and terrifying delusions. He attempts to rationally explain his experiences with scientific explanations, but ultimately succumbs to the belief in the supernatural.

The Horla itself is presented as an invisible entity that feeds on the life force of humans, growing stronger while its victim weakens. It is described as a harbinger of a new species destined to supplant mankind, representing a threat to human dominance and sanity. The nature of the Horla remains ambiguous, leaving the reader to question whether it is a real entity, a manifestation of mental illness, or a metaphor for the anxieties of modern life.

The novella is considered a significant work of French literature and has been influential in the horror genre. Its exploration of psychological disintegration and the fear of the unknown continues to resonate with readers today. The open-ended nature of the story allows for multiple interpretations, making it a subject of ongoing literary analysis and discussion.