Literary Devices Used In The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
The Necklace is a short story written by Guy De Maupassant in 1884. The story revolves around a young woman named Mathilde Loisel who is unhappy with her social status and dreams of living a luxurious life. The story is a perfect example of how literary devices can be used to create a compelling story. In this article, we will discuss the literary devices used in The Necklace.
Irony
Irony is a literary device that involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. The Necklace is full of irony. Mathilde Loisel borrows a necklace from her friend to wear to a party, but she loses it. She and her husband work hard for ten years to pay off the debt to replace the necklace, only to find out that the original necklace was fake. The irony lies in the fact that Mathilde and her husband worked hard to replace a necklace that was not even real.
Situational Irony
Situational irony is a type of irony that occurs when the opposite of what is expected happens. In The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel dreams of living a luxurious life, but her desire for material possessions leads to her downfall. She borrows a necklace to wear to a party and loses it, which sets off a chain of events that leads to her and her husband living a life of poverty for ten years. The situational irony lies in the fact that Mathilde's desire for material possessions leads to her living a life that is the complete opposite of what she wanted.
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is a type of irony that occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not. In The Necklace, the readers know that the necklace that Mathilde borrows is fake, but the characters in the story do not. This creates tension and suspense as the readers wonder what will happen when the characters find out that the necklace is fake.
Suspense
Suspense is a literary device that creates tension and anticipation in the reader. In The Necklace, the suspense is created when Mathilde loses the necklace and she and her husband have to work hard to replace it. The reader wonders if they will be able to replace the necklace and what will happen when they find out that the necklace is fake.
Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device that involves the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In The Necklace, the necklace itself is a symbol of materialism and the desire for wealth and status. Mathilde sees the necklace as a way to achieve her dreams, but it ultimately leads to her downfall.
Mood
Mood is a literary device that creates a certain atmosphere or feeling in the reader. In The Necklace, the mood is one of sadness and regret. Mathilde's desire for material possessions leads to her living a life of poverty and regretting her decisions.
Point of View
Point of view is a literary device that involves the perspective from which a story is told. In The Necklace, the story is told from a third-person omniscient point of view. This allows the reader to see the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story.
Theme
Theme is a literary device that involves the central idea or message of a story. The theme of The Necklace is the danger of materialism and the importance of being content with what you have. Mathilde's desire for material possessions leads to her living a life of poverty and regretting her decisions. The story teaches us that it is important to be content with what we have and not to be consumed by our desires for material possessions.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a perfect example of how literary devices can be used to create a compelling story. The use of irony, symbolism, suspense, and other literary devices creates a story that is full of tension and emotion. The story teaches us an important lesson about the dangers of materialism and the importance of being content with what we have. It is a timeless story that is still relevant today.