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Summary Of The Necklace Guy De Maupassant

The Necklace Guy De Maupassant

Introduction

The Necklace is a short story by French writer Guy De Maupassant, first published in 1884. The story is set in France in the late 19th century and tells the story of a young woman named Mathilde Loisel who dreams of a life of luxury and wealth. The story explores themes of social class, materialism, and the consequences of dishonesty and pride.

Plot Summary

The story begins with Mathilde Loisel, a young woman from a modest family, who dreams of a life of luxury and wealth. She is unhappy with her simple life and feels that she is entitled to more. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a fancy ball, but Mathilde is unhappy because she has nothing to wear. Her husband suggests that she borrow a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier.

At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention and enjoys the luxury and glamour of the evening. However, on the way home, she realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for it but cannot find it.

In order to replace the necklace, Mathilde and her husband take out loans, work extra jobs, and live in poverty for ten years. Finally, they are able to pay off the debt and replace the necklace. However, when Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier and tells her what happened, Madame Forestier tells her that the necklace was actually a fake and worth very little.

Character Analysis

Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the story. She is a beautiful but unhappy woman who dreams of a life of luxury and wealth. She is dissatisfied with her simple life and feels that she is entitled to more. She is also dishonest and prideful, which ultimately leads to her downfall.

Madame Forestier is Mathilde's wealthy friend who lends her the necklace for the ball. She is a symbol of the lifestyle that Mathilde desires. However, she is also a kind and generous person who does not judge Mathilde for her social class.

Themes

The Necklace explores several themes, including:

  • Social class - Mathilde is unhappy with her social class and dreams of a life of luxury and wealth.
  • Materialism - Mathilde's desire for luxury and wealth leads her to borrow the necklace and ultimately causes her downfall.
  • Dishonesty - Mathilde lies to Madame Forestier about losing the necklace and spends ten years living in poverty to replace it.
  • Pride - Mathilde's pride prevents her from telling Madame Forestier the truth about the lost necklace, which ultimately leads to her downfall.

Conclusion

The Necklace is a classic short story that explores themes of social class, materialism, dishonesty, and pride. It is a cautionary tale about the consequences of wanting more than one has and the pitfalls of dishonesty and pride. Mathilde's story serves as a reminder that happiness cannot be found in material possessions and that honesty and humility are virtues to be valued.

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