Examples Of Symbolism In The Necklace
The Necklace is a short story written by French writer Guy de Maupassant. It is a tale about a woman named Mathilde Loisel, who is unhappy with her middle-class life and desires to be wealthy. The story revolves around the necklace that Mathilde borrows from a friend to wear to a ball and loses it, leading to a life of poverty and hardship. The story is filled with symbolism that portrays the theme of the story. In this article, we will explore some of the examples of symbolism used in The Necklace.
The Necklace
The necklace is the central symbol in the story. It represents wealth, status, and social class. Mathilde borrows the necklace from her friend to wear to the ball, believing that it will make her look rich and sophisticated. However, she loses the necklace, which leads to a life of poverty and hardship. The necklace symbolizes the superficiality of society and how people are judged based on their material possessions.
The Ballroom
The ballroom is another important symbol in the story. It represents the world of the rich and powerful. Mathilde desires to be a part of this world, but her middle-class status prevents her from entering it. When she finally gets the chance to attend the ball, she feels out of place and uncomfortable. The ballroom symbolizes the divide between the rich and poor and how difficult it is for people to move between the two worlds.
The Mirror
The mirror is a symbol of vanity and self-absorption. Mathilde spends hours looking at herself in the mirror, trying to perfect her appearance. She believes that her beauty and charm will help her fit in with the wealthy crowd at the ball. However, her obsession with her appearance leads to her downfall, as she loses the necklace while admiring herself in the mirror. The mirror symbolizes the dangers of vanity and how it can lead to self-destruction.
The Forest
The forest is a symbol of the unknown and the mysterious. Mathilde and her husband walk through the forest on their way to the ball, and Mathilde imagines herself in a fairy tale, surrounded by beauty and wonder. However, the forest also represents the dangers of the unknown. When Mathilde loses the necklace in the forest, she realizes the harsh reality of her situation. The forest symbolizes the unpredictability of life and how things can change in an instant.
The Diamond Necklace
The diamond necklace is a symbol of deception and illusion. Mathilde believes that the necklace is real and worth a fortune, but in reality, it is fake and only worth a few francs. The necklace symbolizes the false promises of wealth and status and how they can lead to disappointment and disillusionment.
The Poverty
The poverty is a symbol of the consequences of one's actions. Mathilde's desire for wealth and status leads her to borrow the necklace and lose it, which results in a life of poverty and hardship. The poverty symbolizes the harsh reality of life and how one's choices can have lasting consequences.
The Irony
The irony is a symbol of the unexpected twists and turns of life. The story is filled with irony, such as Mathilde's belief that she is destined for greatness, only to end up in poverty. The irony symbolizes the unpredictable nature of life and how things can turn out differently than expected.
The Debt
The debt is a symbol of the burden that one must carry. Mathilde and her husband spend the next ten years of their lives paying off the debt incurred from replacing the necklace. The debt symbolizes the consequences of one's actions and how they can affect one's life in the long run.
The Hope
The hope is a symbol of the possibility of redemption. At the end of the story, Mathilde discovers that the necklace was fake and that her life of poverty was unnecessary. The hope symbolizes the potential for a new beginning and a chance to start over.
The Lesson
The lesson is a symbol of the moral of the story. The Necklace teaches us that wealth and status are superficial and that true happiness comes from within. The lesson symbolizes the importance of values such as honesty, humility, and gratitude.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, The Necklace is a story filled with symbolism that portrays the theme of the story. The necklace, the ballroom, the mirror, the forest, the diamond necklace, the poverty, the irony, the debt, the hope, and the lesson are all examples of the symbolism used in the story. Each symbol represents a different aspect of the story and contributes to its overall meaning. The Necklace teaches us that material possessions are not the key to happiness and that true happiness comes from within. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us of the importance of values such as honesty, humility, and gratitude.
