The Necklace
The author of “The Necklace”, Guy de Maupassant, uses the multiple definitions of setting to enhance the story in many ways. One of these ways is the definition that setting includes the occupations and daily manners of living of the character. By stressing the protagonist, Madame Loisel’s, personality, attributes, and actions by using the financial and occupational setting of the character to describe her, as well as by developing her character, this form of setting is shown. Due to her lower-middle-class lifestyle, Loisel experiences chagrin and depression nearly every day of her life, as she constantly fantasizes about living a life of wealth. However, her husband has an entirely contrasting nature, as he is quite content with the way he
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This is expressed in Madame Loisel’s environment. Although Madame Loisel dreams about being in a luxurious environment, the reality is that she lives in a low-middle class environment. This environment distinction is used for symbolism in the story. Madame Loisel’s reverie is about being in a wealthy atmosphere, and this becomes a reality when her husband brings her an invitation to a high-class ball. Upon receiving the invitation, she visits her well-to-do friend and borrows a diamond necklace. “Suddenly she discovered, in a black satin case, a superb diamond necklace; her heart began to beat covetously. Her hands trembled as she lifted it. She fastened it round her neck, upon her high dress, and remained in ecstasy at the sight of herself,” this quote shows how excited Madame Loisel is to borrow the diamond necklace, even though her friend had many other necklaces that would have worked perfectly fine for the party. Madame Loisel picks out the diamonds because she knows that it will create the illusion that she is wealthy enough to purchase an extremely expensive diamond necklace. Unfortunately, Madame Loisel loses the diamond necklace at the end of the party and spends several years working in stressful conditions to earn enough money to replace the diamond necklace, only to find out that it was fake. The quote, “Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was
This is expressed in Madame Loisel’s environment. Although Madame Loisel dreams about being in a luxurious environment, the reality is that she lives in a low-middle class environment. This environment distinction is used for symbolism in the story. Madame Loisel’s reverie is about being in a wealthy atmosphere, and this becomes a reality when her husband brings her an invitation to a high-class ball. Upon receiving the invitation, she visits her well-to-do friend and borrows a diamond necklace. “Suddenly she discovered, in a black satin case, a superb diamond necklace; her heart began to beat covetously. Her hands trembled as she lifted it. She fastened it round her neck, upon her high dress, and remained in ecstasy at the sight of herself,” this quote shows how excited Madame Loisel is to borrow the diamond necklace, even though her friend had many other necklaces that would have worked perfectly fine for the party. Madame Loisel picks out the diamonds because she knows that it will create the illusion that she is wealthy enough to purchase an extremely expensive diamond necklace. Unfortunately, Madame Loisel loses the diamond necklace at the end of the party and spends several years working in stressful conditions to earn enough money to replace the diamond necklace, only to find out that it was fake. The quote, “Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was