Conflict Of The Story The Necklace
The Necklace is a famous short story written by French author Guy de Maupassant. The story was first published in the French newspaper Le Gaulois in 1884. Since then, it has become one of the most widely read and analyzed short stories in the world. The Necklace is a story about a woman named Mathilde Loisel, who is unhappy with her middle-class life and longs to be rich and famous. She borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend to wear to a fancy party, but loses it, and spends the next ten years of her life working to pay it back. The story is full of conflict and tension, as Mathilde struggles to come to terms with her own mistakes and the consequences of her actions.
The Conflict of Desire vs. Reality
The main conflict in The Necklace is between Mathilde's desire for a life of luxury and glamour and the reality of her middle-class existence. Mathilde is unhappy with her life, and dreams of being rich, famous, and admired. She longs for beautiful dresses, expensive jewelry, and the attention of wealthy men. However, her reality is far different. She is married to a simple clerk, lives in a small apartment, and has to work hard to make ends meet. She feels trapped and frustrated by her circumstances, and spends much of her time daydreaming about a better life.
Mathilde's desire for a life of luxury leads to her downfall. When she is invited to a fancy party, she borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend to wear. She believes that the necklace will make her look and feel like the glamorous woman she longs to be. However, when she loses the necklace, her dreams come crashing down. She cannot afford to replace it, and must work hard for the next ten years to pay back the debt. Her desire for a life of luxury has led to her ruin.
The Conflict of Appearance vs. Reality
Another important conflict in The Necklace is between appearance and reality. Mathilde believes that appearances are everything. She longs to be admired and respected, and believes that the way she looks and dresses is the key to achieving this. She spends much of her time and money on beautiful clothes and accessories, and is obsessed with her appearance. However, the reality is that appearance is not everything. Mathilde's obsession with looking beautiful and glamorous leads her to make poor decisions, such as borrowing the diamond necklace, which ultimately lead to her downfall.
In contrast, the reality of the situation is that appearance is not as important as Mathilde thinks it is. When she loses the diamond necklace, she realizes that her appearance has not brought her the happiness and admiration she thought it would. She discovers that true happiness comes from within, and that material possessions are not the key to a fulfilling life.
The Conflict of Honesty vs. Deceit
Another important conflict in The Necklace is between honesty and deceit. Mathilde is a deceitful character who lies to herself and others throughout the story. She lies about her social status, her financial situation, and her happiness. She is not honest with herself or with her husband, and this leads to many of the problems in the story.
Mathilde's deceitfulness is most evident when she loses the diamond necklace. Instead of telling her friend the truth, she and her husband decide to replace the necklace without telling anyone. This leads to years of debt and hardship for Mathilde, and ultimately destroys her life. If Mathilde had been honest from the beginning, she may have been able to avoid the terrible consequences of her actions.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a powerful story about the conflict between desire and reality, appearance and reality, and honesty and deceit. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the importance of being true to oneself. The story has become a classic of world literature, and continues to be read and analyzed by readers all over the world.
