The Necklace
I just read “The Necklace” by Guy de Maussant and i'm going to be addressing “Taking into account the entire story of ‘The Necklace,’ especially the last encounter with Madame Forrestier, should Mathilde be admired or condemned?”
In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maussant tells a short story where the main character Mathilde’s actions, help convey the theme that a small thing can lead to the destruction of happiness.
From the very beginning of the story, it is obvious that the main character Mathilde, is not happy with her position in society, and thinks she should be much more reputable. “She suffered constantly, feeling herself destined for all delicacies and luxuries” (Maussant 1). This quote shows that she is unsatisfied and uncomfortable in her current situation, and believes that she belongs in a much more royal environment. She felt that her husband was boring and plain and she dreamt of much more. Mathilde is only concerned with her own happiness and she is very shallow below the surface. …show more content…
Mathilde takes advantage of this opportunity, and uses it to manipulate her husband into buying her a new fancy dress. “She thought for a few moments, adding things up and thinking also of an amount that she could ask without getting an immediate and a frightened outcry from the frugal clerk” (Maussant 7). This quote immediately dehumanises Mathilde because of her lack of compassion and the way that she refers to her husband as just a “frugal clerk.” She sees him as if he were an object just because he is not from a wealthier background which, to her, justifies her attempts at manipulating
In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maussant tells a short story where the main character Mathilde’s actions, help convey the theme that a small thing can lead to the destruction of happiness.
From the very beginning of the story, it is obvious that the main character Mathilde, is not happy with her position in society, and thinks she should be much more reputable. “She suffered constantly, feeling herself destined for all delicacies and luxuries” (Maussant 1). This quote shows that she is unsatisfied and uncomfortable in her current situation, and believes that she belongs in a much more royal environment. She felt that her husband was boring and plain and she dreamt of much more. Mathilde is only concerned with her own happiness and she is very shallow below the surface. …show more content…
Mathilde takes advantage of this opportunity, and uses it to manipulate her husband into buying her a new fancy dress. “She thought for a few moments, adding things up and thinking also of an amount that she could ask without getting an immediate and a frightened outcry from the frugal clerk” (Maussant 7). This quote immediately dehumanises Mathilde because of her lack of compassion and the way that she refers to her husband as just a “frugal clerk.” She sees him as if he were an object just because he is not from a wealthier background which, to her, justifies her attempts at manipulating