The Necklace Short Story Plot Diagram
Introduction
"The Necklace" is a famous short story written by Guy de Maupassant, a French writer. It was first published in 1884 and has since become one of the most popular short stories in the world. The story revolves around a woman named Mathilde Loisel, who dreams of living a luxurious life but is stuck in poverty. In this article, we will discuss the plot diagram of "The Necklace" and how it helps us understand the story better.
Exposition
The exposition is the first stage of the plot diagram, where the characters and the setting are introduced. In "The Necklace," Mathilde Loisel is introduced as a beautiful and charming young woman who is married to a clerk. They live in a small apartment in Paris and are not very wealthy. Mathilde is unhappy with her life and always dreams of living a life of luxury and comfort.
Inciting Incident
The inciting incident is the event that sets the story in motion. In "The Necklace," the inciting incident is when Mathilde receives an invitation to attend a fancy party hosted by the Ministry of Education. Mathilde is overjoyed at the thought of attending the party, but she realizes that she does not have anything nice to wear. She asks her husband for money to buy a new dress, but they can only afford 400 francs. Mathilde is disappointed and decides to borrow a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
Rising Action
The rising action is the stage where the conflict begins to build. In "The Necklace," Mathilde attends the party and is the center of attention. She is admired by everyone at the party, but she becomes worried when she realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for the necklace but cannot find it. They decide to replace the necklace by buying a new one, which they cannot afford. They take out loans and work hard to pay off the debt.
Climax
The climax is the turning point of the story, where the conflict reaches its highest point. In "The Necklace," the climax is when Mathilde and her husband finally pay off the debt for the necklace. Mathilde decides to tell Madame Forestier the truth about the necklace and how she lost it. Madame Forestier is shocked and reveals that the necklace was not real, but a fake one made of costume jewelry. Mathilde is devastated and realizes that all the hard work and sacrifice was for nothing.
Falling Action
The falling action is the stage where the story begins to wind down. In "The Necklace," the falling action is when Mathilde and her husband have to live a life of poverty again. They have to work hard to pay off the debt and live a simple life. Mathilde realizes that her dreams of living a luxurious life were foolish and that she should have been content with what she had.
Resolution
The resolution is the stage where the story comes to an end, and the conflicts are resolved. In "The Necklace," the resolution is when Mathilde realizes the truth about the necklace and how foolish she was to dream of living a luxurious life. She and her husband learn to live a simple life and are content with what they have.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Necklace" is a powerful short story that teaches us a valuable lesson about the dangers of greed and the importance of being content with what we have. The plot diagram helps us understand the story better by breaking it down into different stages. We can see how the story builds up to the climax and how the conflicts are resolved in the end. By studying the plot diagram, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the story and the message it conveys.
