Summary Of The Necklace Short Story
Introduction
"The Necklace" is a short story written by 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 dreams of a life of luxury and wealth. However, she is married to a clerk and lives a simple life. One day, her husband gets an invitation to a fancy ball and Mathilde borrows a necklace from a friend to wear to the ball. After the ball, Mathilde loses the necklace and spends years paying for a replacement before discovering it was a fake.
The Characters
The main character of the story is Mathilde Loisel, a beautiful woman who dreams of a life of luxury and wealth. She is married to a clerk, Monsieur Loisel, who is content with their simple life. Mathilde's friend, Madame Forestier, lends her the necklace that sets off the chain of events in the story.
The Plot
The story begins with Mathilde Loisel feeling unhappy with her life. She longs for a life of luxury and wealth but is stuck living a simple life with her husband. One day, her husband gets an invitation to a fancy ball and Mathilde borrows a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear to the ball. Mathilde is the belle of the ball and has a wonderful time, but when she returns home, she realizes that she has lost the necklace.
Mathilde and her husband spend years paying for a replacement necklace, which puts them in debt and forces them to live a life of poverty. It is only years later, when Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier and discovers that the original necklace was fake, that she realizes the cost of her vanity and the toll it took on her life.
The Themes
The Necklace explores several themes, including the dangers of vanity and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's vanity and desire for a life of luxury led her to borrow a necklace that she could not afford to replace. Her dishonesty about losing the necklace caused her and her husband to suffer for years. In the end, it was only through honesty and humility that Mathilde was able to learn the truth about the necklace and find peace in her life.
The Writing Style
Guy de Maupassant's writing style in The Necklace is simple and direct. He uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to create a clear picture of Mathilde's world and the events that unfold. The story is told in the third person, which allows the reader to see things from a distance and understand the characters' motivations and actions.
The Impact of The Necklace
The Necklace has had a lasting impact on literature and popular culture. It is often studied in schools and universities and is considered a classic example of short fiction. The story has been adapted into plays, films, and television shows, and has inspired many other writers to explore similar themes of vanity and honesty in their own work.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a classic short story that explores the dangers of vanity and the importance of honesty. Through the character of Mathilde Loisel, Guy de Maupassant shows how a desire for luxury and wealth can lead to a life of suffering and poverty. The story's impact on literature and popular culture is a testament to its enduring relevance and power.
