Character Traits Of Madame Loisel In The Necklace
Madame Loisel, the protagonist of the short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, is a complex character with various traits that shape her personality and her actions throughout the narrative. Her character is depicted as one that is both vain and ambitious, leading her to make choices that ultimately lead to her downfall. In this article, we will explore the different character traits of Madame Loisel and how they contribute to the overall theme of the story.
Ambition
One of Madame Loisel's most prominent character traits is her ambition. She dreams of a life of luxury and wealth, in which she is admired and adored by those around her. However, her desires are beyond her means, as she is born into a middle-class family and marries a clerk. Her ambition drives her to constantly yearn for more, leading her to feel unhappy with her life and her social status. This ambition ultimately leads her to borrow a necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, for a high society event, which sets the events of the story in motion.
Vanity
Madame Loisel's vanity is another prominent character trait. She is obsessed with her appearance and how she is perceived by others. Her desire to be admired and adored by those around her is rooted in her vanity, which drives her to constantly seek out ways to improve her appearance and her social status. This vanity leads her to borrow the necklace from Madame Forestier and ultimately leads to her downfall.
Ingratitude
Madame Loisel's ingratitude is a character trait that is revealed towards the end of the story. After losing the necklace, she and her husband are forced to replace it by taking out loans and working hard to pay them off. However, when Madame Loisel meets Madame Forestier years later, she reveals that the necklace was lost and replaced, prompting Madame Forestier to reveal that the original necklace was a fake, worth only a fraction of the cost of the replacement. Madame Loisel's ingratitude is revealed when she expresses no remorse or gratitude for the sacrifices that her husband made to replace the necklace, instead feeling relieved that it was not the real thing.
Materialism
Madame Loisel's materialism is another character trait that plays a significant role in the story. Her desire for material possessions and a life of luxury drives her to make choices that ultimately lead to her downfall. Her desire for the necklace is rooted in her materialism, as she believes that it will enhance her appearance and her social status. This materialism leads her to borrow the necklace and ultimately leads to the loss of the necklace, which sets the events of the story in motion.
Envy
Madame Loisel's envy is another character trait that is revealed in the story. She is envious of those around her who are born into wealth and privilege, believing that they lead a life of luxury and ease. Her envy drives her to constantly compare herself to those around her and feel inadequate, leading her to make choices that ultimately lead to her downfall.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Madame Loisel is a complex character with various traits that shape her personality and her actions throughout the story. Her ambition, vanity, ingratitude, materialism, and envy are all characteristics that contribute to the overall theme of the story, which is the danger of materialism and the importance of being content with what one has. Madame Loisel's downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of being consumed by one's desires and the importance of being grateful for what one has.
