Analysis Of The Story The Necklace
Introduction
The Necklace is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884. It tells the story of Madame Mathilde Loisel, a woman who was born into a middle-class family but married a lowly clerk. Mathilde dreams of a luxurious life with expensive clothes and jewels but is unhappy with her modest existence.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Mathilde Loisel feeling discontent with her life. She is unhappy with her social status and dreams of a life of luxury. One day, her husband comes home with an invitation to a prestigious ball. Mathilde is thrilled at the prospect of attending the ball and being seen as a member of high society.
However, Mathilde is distraught when she realizes she has no suitable dress or jewelry to wear to the ball. Her husband gives her the money he had been saving for a hunting trip, and she purchases a beautiful dress. But she still lacks a proper necklace to complete her outfit.
Mathilde borrows a diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier. She attends the ball and is the most beautiful woman there. However, when she returns home, she discovers that the necklace is missing. She and her husband search frantically for the necklace but cannot find it.
In order to replace the necklace, Mathilde and her husband take out loans and work hard for ten years. They live in poverty and are barely able to make ends meet.
One day, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier on the street. She tells her friend what happened with the necklace and how she has been paying off the debt for ten years. Madame Forestier is shocked and tells Mathilde that the necklace was a fake and worth only a fraction of what she paid for it.
Themes
The Necklace explores several themes, including the dangers of materialism, the importance of honesty, and the consequences of deception.
Mathilde's desire for material possessions leads her to borrow a necklace she cannot afford and ultimately lose it. Her obsession with appearances causes her to live in poverty for ten years and almost ruin her marriage.
The story also highlights the importance of honesty. If Mathilde had been honest with Madame Forestier about losing the necklace, she could have saved herself and her husband from years of hardship and debt.
The Necklace also shows the consequences of deception. Madame Forestier's decision not to reveal that the necklace was a fake causes Mathilde and her husband to suffer for a decade. Deception leads to a web of lies that can have far-reaching consequences.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism, the importance of honesty, and the consequences of deception. It reminds us that true happiness cannot be found in material possessions and that honesty is always the best policy.
