Symbolism In The Story The Necklace
The Necklace is one of the most famous short stories written by Guy de Maupassant. The story is set in Paris in the late 19th century and tells the tale of Madame Mathilde Loisel, a woman who is unhappy with her life and longs for something more. The story is full of symbolism that reflects the theme of the story, which is the danger of pride and the consequences of greed.
The Necklace
The necklace is the central symbol of the story. Madame Loisel borrows the necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear to a high-society event. The necklace is described as being made of diamonds, and it is worth a fortune. Madame Loisel loses the necklace and spends ten years of her life working to repay the debt she incurred to replace it. The necklace symbolizes the danger of pride and the consequences of greed. Madame Loisel's desire to appear wealthy and glamorous leads her to borrow and lose the necklace, which causes her to suffer greatly.
The Dress
The dress that Madame Loisel wears to the event is another symbol in the story. The dress is described as being simple and unadorned, which emphasizes Madame Loisel's dissatisfaction with her life. She feels that she is not worthy of attending the event because she does not have the proper clothing. The dress symbolizes Madame Loisel's desire for something more in her life, something that she feels is unattainable.
The Invitation
The invitation to the high-society event is yet another symbol in the story. The invitation represents Madame Loisel's longing for a better life. She is thrilled to receive the invitation, but she feels that she cannot attend because she does not have the proper clothing. The invitation symbolizes Madame Loisel's desire to be a part of the upper class, but it also represents the danger of pride. Madame Loisel's pride prevents her from admitting that she cannot afford the proper clothing, which leads her to borrow the necklace and lose it.
The Mirror
The mirror is a symbol in the story that reflects Madame Loisel's dissatisfaction with her life. She spends hours looking at herself in the mirror, dreaming of a better life. The mirror symbolizes Madame Loisel's desire to be someone else, someone who is wealthy and glamorous. The mirror also represents the danger of pride. Madame Loisel's pride prevents her from being content with her life, which leads her to borrow the necklace and lose it.
The Debt
The debt that Madame Loisel incurs to replace the necklace is another symbol in the story. The debt represents the consequences of Madame Loisel's greed and pride. She spends ten years of her life working to repay the debt, which causes her to suffer greatly. The debt symbolizes the danger of pride and the consequences of greed. Madame Loisel's desire to appear wealthy and glamorous leads her to borrow and lose the necklace, which causes her to suffer greatly.
The Conclusion
The Necklace is a story full of symbolism that reflects the theme of the danger of pride and the consequences of greed. The necklace, the dress, the invitation, the mirror, and the debt are all symbols that represent Madame Loisel's desire for something more in her life, something that she feels is unattainable. The story is a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of pride and the consequences of greed.
