The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Read Aloud
Introduction
The Necklace is a short story by Guy De Maupassant that was first published in 1884. It is a tale of a young woman named Mathilde Loisel, who is unhappy with her life and her social status. Mathilde desires to be wealthy and live a life of luxury, but her husband is a clerk and they live modestly. One day, Mathilde's husband is invited to a fancy ball, and she borrows a necklace from a rich friend to wear to the event. However, the necklace is lost, and Mathilde and her husband spend years working to pay for a replacement. The story is a critique of the vanity and materialism that was prevalent in French society during the 19th century.
Characters
The Necklace has three main characters: Mathilde Loisel, her husband, and Madame Forestier. Mathilde is a beautiful young woman who is unhappy with her life and desires to be wealthy. Her husband is a clerk who is content with their modest lifestyle. Madame Forestier is a rich friend of Mathilde who lends her the necklace that becomes lost.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Mathilde Loisel daydreaming about a life of luxury and wealth. She is married to a clerk and is unhappy with their modest lifestyle. One day, her husband is invited to a fancy ball, and Mathilde borrows a necklace from Madame Forestier to wear to the event. Mathilde attends the ball and is the belle of the ball, but she loses the necklace on the way home. Mathilde and her husband spend years working to pay for a replacement, and they live in poverty during this time. Eventually, they are able to replace the necklace, but Mathilde sees Madame Forestier and tells her of the lost necklace. Madame Forestier reveals that the necklace was a fake, and Mathilde realizes that her desire for luxury and material possessions has caused her to suffer needlessly.
Themes
The Necklace explores themes of vanity, materialism, and the consequences of desire. Mathilde's desire for wealth and luxury causes her to suffer needlessly and ultimately leads to her downfall. The story is a critique of the social norms and expectations that were prevalent in French society during the 19th century.
Analysis
Maupassant's use of irony in The Necklace is a key element of the story's critique of French society. Mathilde's desire for luxury and material possessions is presented as a flaw, and her suffering is a consequence of this flaw. The story also critiques the social norms and expectations that were prevalent during the 19th century. Maupassant uses the character of Madame Forestier to represent the wealthy elite, and her willingness to lend Mathilde the necklace highlights the social inequality and class divide that existed during this time.
Read Aloud
The Necklace is a short story that can be read aloud in under an hour. There are several online resources that offer audio recordings of the story, which can be accessed for free. Reading The Necklace aloud can be a great way to engage with the story and appreciate the language and themes in a new way.
Conclusion
The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is a classic short story that explores themes of vanity, materialism, and desire. The story's critique of French society and social norms is still relevant today, and its use of irony and character development make it a compelling read. Reading The Necklace aloud can be a great way to engage with the story and appreciate its language and themes in a new way.
