Alliteration In The Story The Necklace
"The Necklace" is a short story written by French writer Guy de Maupassant. It is a story about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who is unhappy with her middle-class life and constantly dreams of being wealthy. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a fancy ball, but Mathilde has nothing to wear. She borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from a friend, but loses it at the ball. In order to replace it, she and her husband borrow money and work hard for ten years to pay it back. Only then does Mathilde find out that the necklace was a fake, and all their hard work was for nothing.
What is Alliteration?
Alliteration is a literary device where two or more words in a sentence begin with the same sound or letter. It is often used in poetry and prose to create a musical or rhythmic effect, or to emphasize certain words or ideas. In "The Necklace," Maupassant uses alliteration to enhance the story's themes and create a sense of irony and tragedy.
Alliteration in "The Necklace"
One example of alliteration in the story is in the opening sentence: "She was one of those pretty and charming girls who are sometimes, as if by a mistake of destiny, born in a family of clerks." The repeated "c" sound in "charming," "girls," "mistake," and "clerks" creates a musical effect and emphasizes the contrast between Mathilde's appearance and her social status.
Another example is in the description of Mathilde's apartment: "The walls were whitewashed and the floor was covered in worn-out mats." The repeated "w" sound in "walls," "whitewashed," and "worn-out" creates a sense of monotony and poverty, and emphasizes the contrast between Mathilde's imagined life of luxury and her actual living conditions.
Maupassant also uses alliteration to create a sense of irony in the story. For example, when Mathilde first sees the diamond necklace, she is described as "wild with desire" and "breathless with anticipation." The repeated "d" sound in "diamond," "desire," and "breathless" creates a sense of excitement and passion, but also foreshadows the tragedy to come.
The Importance of Alliteration in "The Necklace"
Alliteration is an important literary device in "The Necklace" because it helps to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The repeated sounds and rhythms in the language contribute to the story's overall tone of irony and tragedy. By using alliteration, Maupassant is able to emphasize the contrast between Mathilde's dreams and reality, and to highlight the futility of her desire for wealth and status.
Overall, alliteration is just one of the many literary devices that Maupassant uses to tell his story. It is a powerful tool that helps to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and to emphasize the story's themes and ideas. By paying attention to the use of alliteration in "The Necklace," readers can gain a deeper understanding of the story's meaning and significance.