Theme Of The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
Introduction
"The Necklace" is a short story written by French writer 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 is unhappy with her middle-class life and dreams of a luxurious lifestyle. She borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend to wear to a fancy ball, but loses it, and spends the next decade of her life trying to replace it. The story explores themes such as materialism, pride, and the consequences of actions.
Materialism
The story highlights the theme of materialism. Mathilde Loisel is unhappy with her middle-class life and dreams of a luxurious lifestyle. She believes that material possessions will bring her happiness and fulfillment. When she loses the borrowed necklace, she and her husband spend their savings and borrow money to buy a replacement. The pursuit of material possessions ultimately leads to her downfall and misery.
Pride
Mathilde Loisel's pride is another theme explored in the story. She is too proud to admit to her friend that she has lost the necklace and instead spends years trying to replace it. Her pride also leads her to refuse to wear cheap clothing to the fancy ball, which ultimately results in her borrowing the necklace. Her pride causes her to make foolish decisions that have long-lasting consequences.
Consequences of Actions
The story also explores the consequences of actions. Mathilde Loisel's decision to borrow the necklace and her subsequent loss of it lead to her and her husband's financial ruin. They spend years in poverty trying to pay off the debt incurred from buying a replacement necklace. The consequences of Mathilde's actions ultimately lead to her realization that her obsession with material possessions was misplaced.
Conclusion
"The Necklace" is a timeless story that explores themes that are still relevant today. It reminds us that the pursuit of material possessions can often lead to unhappiness and that pride can result in foolish decisions. The story also shows us that our actions have consequences that can last a lifetime.
