Moral Of The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
Introduction
"The Necklace" by Guy De Maupassant is a short story that explores the theme of appearance versus reality, and the consequences of envy and pride. The story is set in 19th century France and revolves around the life of Mathilde Loisel, a beautiful and ambitious young woman who dreams of a life of luxury and wealth.
The Plot
Mathilde Loisel is a middle-class woman who is married to a clerk. Despite her comfortable life, she is unhappy and discontented because she feels that she deserves more. She dreams of a life of luxury and wealth, and desires to be admired and envied by others.
One day, Mathilde's husband comes home with an invitation to a prestigious ball. Mathilde is overjoyed at the prospect of attending the ball and being admired by the wealthy and influential people of Paris. However, Mathilde realizes that she has nothing to wear to the ball and borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention and is admired by everyone. She is finally living the life she has always dreamed of. However, when she returns home, she realizes that she has lost the necklace. Mathilde and her husband search for the necklace, but are unable to find it. In order to replace the necklace, they take out a loan and spend the next ten years of their lives repaying the debt.
After ten years, Mathilde meets Madame Forestier and confesses that she had lost the necklace and had replaced it. Madame Forestier reveals that the necklace was actually a fake and was worth only a fraction of the amount they had spent to replace it. Mathilde realizes that her desire for material possessions and social status had caused her to suffer needlessly for ten years.
Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that appearances can be deceiving, and that the pursuit of material possessions and social status can lead to misery and suffering. Mathilde's desire for a life of luxury and wealth blinded her to the happiness and contentment that she already possessed. She was so focused on her external appearance and what others thought of her, that she failed to appreciate the beauty and value of her own life.
Conclusion
"The Necklace" by Guy De Maupassant is a cautionary tale about the dangers of envy, pride, and materialism. The story reminds us that happiness and contentment are not found in external possessions or social status, but rather in the beauty and value of our own lives. It also reminds us that appearances can be deceiving, and that we should not judge others based on their external appearance or material possessions. We should instead focus on the inner beauty and value of ourselves and others.
