Literary Analysis The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
“The Necklace” is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884. It is a story about a woman named Mathilde Loisel, who is unhappy with her life because she is not wealthy. One day, Mathilde's husband, Monsieur Loisel, comes home from work with an invitation to a fancy party. Mathilde is excited to attend the party but realizes that she has nothing to wear. Monsieur Loisel gives her money to buy a new dress, but she still feels inadequate. She borrows a diamond necklace from a friend, but after losing it, she spends the next ten years working to repay the debt.
The Theme of Greed
The theme of greed is prevalent throughout the story. Mathilde is unhappy because she is not wealthy and desires a life of luxury. She borrows the necklace from her friend to appear wealthy at the party, but her greed leads to the loss of the necklace. The loss of the necklace leads to Mathilde and her husband living a life of poverty for the next ten years. The story shows how greed can have severe consequences and that it is essential to be content with what you have.
The Theme of Appearance vs. Reality
Another theme that is prevalent in the story is the theme of appearance vs. reality. Mathilde believes that material possessions and wealth equal happiness. She desires to appear wealthy at the party, but in reality, she is not wealthy. She borrows the necklace to appear wealthy, but in reality, it is a fake. The story shows how appearances can be deceiving and that it is essential to look beyond the surface.
The Irony of the Story
The story is full of irony. Mathilde borrows a necklace to appear wealthy, but the necklace is fake. She loses the necklace, but it is not worth as much as she thought. She spends ten years working to repay the debt, only to find out that the necklace was not worth as much as she thought. The story shows how ironic life can be and how things are not always what they seem.
The Importance of Honesty
The story also emphasizes the importance of honesty. Mathilde is not honest with her friend about losing the necklace and instead buys a new one to replace it. She spends the next ten years working to repay the debt, which could have been avoided if she had been honest. The story shows how honesty is the best policy and that it is better to tell the truth, even if it is difficult.
The Character of Mathilde Loisel
Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the story, and her character is essential to the themes of the story. Mathilde is unhappy with her life and desires a life of luxury. She is not content with what she has and is willing to go to great lengths to appear wealthy. Mathilde's character shows how greed and dishonesty can have severe consequences.
The Setting of the Story
The story is set in Paris in the 1800s. The setting is essential to the story because it shows the contrast between the wealthy and the poor. Mathilde desires to be wealthy and attend fancy parties, but she lives in poverty. The setting also adds to the overall mood of the story and helps to create a sense of irony.
The Writing Style of Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant's writing style is straightforward and to the point. He does not use flowery language or complex sentence structures. His writing style is essential to the story because it helps to create a sense of irony. The simplicity of the language contrasts with the complexity of the themes in the story.
The Use of Symbolism
The story uses symbolism to convey its themes. The necklace symbolizes the desire for wealth and material possessions. Mathilde desires to appear wealthy, and the necklace represents her desire for a life of luxury. The loss of the necklace symbolizes the consequences of greed and the importance of being content with what you have.
The Use of Foreshadowing
The story uses foreshadowing to hint at the events that will happen later in the story. For example, when Mathilde is unhappy with the dress she has to wear to the party, it foreshadows the events that will happen later in the story. The use of foreshadowing adds to the overall mood of the story and helps to create a sense of irony.
The Conclusion of the Story
The conclusion of the story is ironic and unexpected. Mathilde spends ten years working to repay the debt for the lost necklace, only to find out that it was not worth as much as she thought. The ending of the story emphasizes the importance of honesty and the consequences of greed.
Conclusion
“The Necklace” is a timeless story that explores themes such as greed, appearance vs. reality, honesty, and irony. Guy de Maupassant's writing style is straightforward and to the point, which helps to create a sense of irony. The story uses symbolism and foreshadowing to convey its themes and add to the overall mood of the story. The conclusion of the story is unexpected and emphasizes the importance of honesty and the consequences of greed. Overall, “The Necklace” is a must-read for anyone interested in literature and the human condition.