The Necklace Essay
Is ten years of suffering and work worth for a having one splendid night? That’s the case in the story “The Necklace” by Guy Maupassant. It tells the story of Mrs. Loisel, a woman who’s desires to have a luxurious life and that everyone would envy her, for her beautiness and elegance. One night her dream finally came, going to the Ministry of Education dinner; however, on that same night her life was changed completely. Mrs. Loisel had lost her rich friend Madam Forrestier diamond necklace, which resulted in Mrs. Loisel and her husband having to buy a new diamond necklace and pay for it. After ten years of hard work to pay for the necklace Mrs. Loisel is told that the diamond necklace was actually costume jewelry. Mrs. Loisel life change dramatically
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from the night of her dreams illustrating how a person’s life can be change by an unforeseen event that occurs in their life.
The story “The Necklace” was written during the late 18th century, a time where social-economic status could be seen in France. Families in the middle and lower class could not grow to a higher class, and some of the individuals living in a middle class family wanted to belong to a high class family. However, the down fall of the family status could of happen quite quickly, one day that could have been living the big fancy life and wake to live in a lower income family. Authors during this time would write about themes that would show the readers how many different situations where happening during this time period. (Williams 1). Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” shows this situation through the character of Mrs. Loisel.
A point to consider is the use of symbolism in Maupassant “The Necklace” to show how the necklace represents Mrs.
Loisel life. Maupassant expressed Mrs. Loisel as the necklace to demonstrate how Mrs. Loisel wealthy appearance, at the event, was just a fake resemblance of a wealthy woman. A way Maupassant shows the reader symbolism is when he states, “The day of the party came... She was prettier than anyone else” (9). The description of Mrs. Loisel at the party shows how beautiful she was. Then at the end of the story, the reader is informed by Madam Forrestier that the necklace “was worth only five hundred francs!” (Maupassant 13). The reader is shown how Mrs. Loisel appearance at the party was like the necklace, pretty and making the other guest believe she was wealthy, but in reality it was all a fake. The reader is aware of this by knowing the real cost of the so thought diamond necklace. In the article by EA Gamini Fonseka states “Except her beautiful personality and her ability to move with people in a fashionable manner, she does not have most of the other requisites” The reader is being given symbolism throughout the story that shows how Mrs. Loisel just appeared as a wealthy woman at the party, but showing how she was a fake at the party as well as the
necklace. Another point to consider is the way Maupassant uses irony in “The Necklace” to show the reader how, Mrs. Loisel worked so hard to pay for the lost necklace to discover the original necklace was actually a fake, to make a point of how objects can mislead the truth. A way that Maupassant shows the reader irony in the story is when he states “I returned another exactly like it. And for ten years we’ve been paying for it…But mine was only costume jewelry.” (13). The reader is informed that the necklace was not made of real diamonds but it was piece of jewelry made from imitated gems. The reader is shown this by the conversation Mrs. Loisel and Mrs. Forrestier have after ten years since the return of the necklace. In the article by Breckett states: “The Loisels pay an incalculable personal price, both literally and figuratively, for Mathilde’s vanity” (1). The author Maupassant use of irony was important because it encages the reader more in the story while the irony has a deeper meaning.
Finally, another point to consider is the use of foreshadowing in Maupassant’s “The Necklace” and how it leads to the aftermath of the story. With foreshadowing, the reader is given warnings and indications at the beginning of the story as to what may occur towards the end of the story. Maupassant lets the reader know that “Suddenly she found a superb diamond necklace… Could you lend me this…Why yes, certainly” (9). The reader is being shown how Mrs. Forrestier lends the diamond necklace so freely which leads us to expect the outcome at the end of the story. In the article by Brackett she states how Madame Forestier does not examine the necklace once Mrs. Loisel returns it (1). The reader is given foreshadowing, of the necklace, throughout the story “suggesting its low value” (Brackett 1). When Mrs. Loisel is presented with the truth at the end of the story, the reader is not undisclosed of the situation because Maupassant has hinted the reader the value of the necklace towards the beginning of the story. Maupassant use of foreshadowing lets the reader get a concealed idea of how the necklace was not a real diamond necklace, however, the necklace was costume jewelry.
Guy Maupassant story “The Necklace” has been known for over 130 years, because it shows how a life of a middle class women, who dreams of wealth and luxuries, ended in a misfortunate way. At first, the reader is presented of what the character dreams of, then how her dream comes true at the dinner party wearing a so thought diamond necklace that she borrowed.
By continuing in the story the reader sees how the diamond necklace is used to show the downfall in Mrs. Loisel economic and social class. Mrs. Loisel was not a wealthy woman, she just desired to become one, but because she lost the diamond necklace the reader grasps the idea of how an unexpected event can change their life completely.
from the night of her dreams illustrating how a person’s life can be change by an unforeseen event that occurs in their life.
The story “The Necklace” was written during the late 18th century, a time where social-economic status could be seen in France. Families in the middle and lower class could not grow to a higher class, and some of the individuals living in a middle class family wanted to belong to a high class family. However, the down fall of the family status could of happen quite quickly, one day that could have been living the big fancy life and wake to live in a lower income family. Authors during this time would write about themes that would show the readers how many different situations where happening during this time period. (Williams 1). Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” shows this situation through the character of Mrs. Loisel.
A point to consider is the use of symbolism in Maupassant “The Necklace” to show how the necklace represents Mrs.
Loisel life. Maupassant expressed Mrs. Loisel as the necklace to demonstrate how Mrs. Loisel wealthy appearance, at the event, was just a fake resemblance of a wealthy woman. A way Maupassant shows the reader symbolism is when he states, “The day of the party came... She was prettier than anyone else” (9). The description of Mrs. Loisel at the party shows how beautiful she was. Then at the end of the story, the reader is informed by Madam Forrestier that the necklace “was worth only five hundred francs!” (Maupassant 13). The reader is shown how Mrs. Loisel appearance at the party was like the necklace, pretty and making the other guest believe she was wealthy, but in reality it was all a fake. The reader is aware of this by knowing the real cost of the so thought diamond necklace. In the article by EA Gamini Fonseka states “Except her beautiful personality and her ability to move with people in a fashionable manner, she does not have most of the other requisites” The reader is being given symbolism throughout the story that shows how Mrs. Loisel just appeared as a wealthy woman at the party, but showing how she was a fake at the party as well as the
necklace. Another point to consider is the way Maupassant uses irony in “The Necklace” to show the reader how, Mrs. Loisel worked so hard to pay for the lost necklace to discover the original necklace was actually a fake, to make a point of how objects can mislead the truth. A way that Maupassant shows the reader irony in the story is when he states “I returned another exactly like it. And for ten years we’ve been paying for it…But mine was only costume jewelry.” (13). The reader is informed that the necklace was not made of real diamonds but it was piece of jewelry made from imitated gems. The reader is shown this by the conversation Mrs. Loisel and Mrs. Forrestier have after ten years since the return of the necklace. In the article by Breckett states: “The Loisels pay an incalculable personal price, both literally and figuratively, for Mathilde’s vanity” (1). The author Maupassant use of irony was important because it encages the reader more in the story while the irony has a deeper meaning.
Finally, another point to consider is the use of foreshadowing in Maupassant’s “The Necklace” and how it leads to the aftermath of the story. With foreshadowing, the reader is given warnings and indications at the beginning of the story as to what may occur towards the end of the story. Maupassant lets the reader know that “Suddenly she found a superb diamond necklace… Could you lend me this…Why yes, certainly” (9). The reader is being shown how Mrs. Forrestier lends the diamond necklace so freely which leads us to expect the outcome at the end of the story. In the article by Brackett she states how Madame Forestier does not examine the necklace once Mrs. Loisel returns it (1). The reader is given foreshadowing, of the necklace, throughout the story “suggesting its low value” (Brackett 1). When Mrs. Loisel is presented with the truth at the end of the story, the reader is not undisclosed of the situation because Maupassant has hinted the reader the value of the necklace towards the beginning of the story. Maupassant use of foreshadowing lets the reader get a concealed idea of how the necklace was not a real diamond necklace, however, the necklace was costume jewelry.
Guy Maupassant story “The Necklace” has been known for over 130 years, because it shows how a life of a middle class women, who dreams of wealth and luxuries, ended in a misfortunate way. At first, the reader is presented of what the character dreams of, then how her dream comes true at the dinner party wearing a so thought diamond necklace that she borrowed.
By continuing in the story the reader sees how the diamond necklace is used to show the downfall in Mrs. Loisel economic and social class. Mrs. Loisel was not a wealthy woman, she just desired to become one, but because she lost the diamond necklace the reader grasps the idea of how an unexpected event can change their life completely.