The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Lesson
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 borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend to wear to a high society ball. When she loses the necklace, she and her husband must work for years to repay the debt. The story is a lesson about the dangers of pride, vanity, and materialism.
The Characters
The story has three main characters: Mathilde Loisel, her husband, and Madame Forestier. Mathilde is a beautiful woman who dreams of living a life of luxury and wealth. Her husband is a clerk who is content with his simple life. Madame Forestier is a wealthy friend of Mathilde's who lends her the necklace.
The Setting
The story is set in 19th century Paris. The city is portrayed as a place of luxury, wealth, and high society. The ball that Mathilde attends is held in a grand mansion and is attended by the wealthiest and most influential people in Paris.
The Theme
The main theme of The Necklace is the danger of pride, vanity, and materialism. Mathilde's obsession with wealth and status leads her to borrow the necklace and ultimately lose it. Her pride prevents her from telling Madame Forestier the truth about the loss, and her vanity leads her to replace the necklace with a more expensive one. The consequences of her actions show that material possessions are not worth sacrificing one's integrity and happiness.
The Plot
The story begins with Mathilde Loisel dreaming of a life of luxury and wealth. She is married to a clerk and is unhappy with her simple life. When her husband receives an invitation to a high society ball, Mathilde is excited to attend. However, she realizes that she has no suitable dress or jewelry. Her husband gives her the money he had saved for a hunting trip so she can buy a dress. Mathilde is still unhappy and borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention and enjoys the luxurious lifestyle. However, when she returns home, she realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for it but cannot find it. They decide to replace it with a new one. They borrow money, sell their possessions, and work for years to repay the debt.
Years later, Mathilde meets Madame Forestier and tells her the truth about the lost necklace. Madame Forestier reveals that the necklace was a fake and was worth only a fraction of what they had paid to replace it. Mathilde realizes that her obsession with wealth and status had caused her to suffer needlessly for years.
The Lesson
The Necklace teaches us that material possessions are not worth sacrificing our integrity and happiness. Mathilde's obsession with wealth and status leads her to borrow the necklace and ultimately lose it. Her pride and vanity prevent her from telling the truth, and the consequences of her actions cause her to suffer for years. The story is a warning about the dangers of pride, vanity, and materialism.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a classic short story that teaches us an important lesson about the dangers of pride, vanity, and materialism. Mathilde's obsession with wealth and status leads her to borrow a necklace and ultimately lose it. Her pride and vanity prevent her from telling the truth, and the consequences of her actions cause her to suffer for years. The story is a warning about the dangers of materialism and the importance of honesty and integrity.