The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Questions And Answers
Introduction
The Necklace is a short story written by French author Guy De Maupassant. It was first published in the French newspaper Le Gaulois in 1884. The story is about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who borrows a necklace from a friend to wear to a fancy party. After losing the necklace, Mathilde and her husband spend the next ten years in poverty trying to repay the debt. The Necklace is a masterpiece of short fiction, and it has become a classic story that is studied in schools around the world.
Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the theme of The Necklace?
The theme of The Necklace is the danger of materialism. Mathilde Loisel is a woman who is obsessed with material possessions and the desire to be wealthy. She believes that having expensive clothes and jewelry will make her happy and improve her social status. However, her obsession with materialism leads to her downfall.
Question 2: Why does Mathilde borrow the necklace?
Mathilde borrows the necklace because she wants to impress the other guests at the fancy party. She believes that she needs to wear expensive jewelry and clothes to fit in with the upper class. Mathilde is not satisfied with her own appearance, and she wants to be seen as beautiful and fashionable by others.
Question 3: Why does Mathilde not tell her friend that she lost the necklace?
Mathilde does not tell her friend that she lost the necklace because she is afraid of the consequences. She knows that her friend will be angry and demand that she replace the necklace. Mathilde and her husband cannot afford to buy a new necklace, so they decide to borrow money and go into debt to repay the debt.
Question 4: What is the irony of the story?
The irony of the story is that Mathilde and her husband spend ten years in poverty trying to repay the debt for the lost necklace, only to find out that the necklace was a fake. The necklace was not worth as much as they thought it was, and they could have easily replaced it with a new one at a much lower cost.
Question 5: What is the significance of the title, The Necklace?
The title, The Necklace, is significant because the necklace is the central object of the story. The necklace represents Mathilde's obsession with material possessions and the danger of materialism. It is also a symbol of the deception and false values that pervade society.
Question 6: What is the message of the story?
The message of the story is that material possessions and social status are not the keys to happiness. Mathilde Loisel's obsession with materialism leads to her downfall, and she realizes too late that her true happiness lies in the love and support of her husband. The Necklace is a warning against the dangers of materialism and the false values of society.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a powerful story that explores the themes of materialism, deception, and false values. It is a warning against the dangers of obsession with material possessions and the pursuit of social status. The story is a masterpiece of short fiction, and it has become a classic that is studied in schools around the world.