Theme of the Necklace

The Necklace

Writers share their views about life through their literary works. In the short story, “The Necklace”, Guy De Maupassant expresses the theme of “Appreciate what you have instead of being envious of others.” “The Necklace” is a story about a young woman which desires social standing and wealth over everything including her husband. The author, Guy De Maupassant, uses characterization, conflict, and the setting to convey the theme.
Mathilde Loisel, the main character in “The Necklace” is an ungrateful, self-centered young woman. Her selfless behavior is first observed on page 609 when her husband brings home an extraordinary invitation to an aristocratic privileged ball. Soon after her husband gave her the invitation, the Guy De Maupassant writes, “She tossed the invitation on the table and muttered, annoyed:” What do you expect me to do with that?”” Mathilde could not appreciate the invitation that her husband worked to get for her, but instead, she wanted more. Consequently, Mathilde’s behavior resurfaces on page 611 when Mathilde asks for jewelry to wear from Madame Forestier. Mathilde asks “Do you have anything else, by chance?” even though the jewels that Forestier had were beautiful. Mathilde Loisel was being oblivious and rude when she said that as Forestier allowed her to borrow her own jewelry. Undoubtedly, Mathilde has been shown throughout the story to be ungrateful even to those who are altruistic and kind.
The story’s conflict contributes with the development of the theme by changing Mathilde’s traits with her loss of the diamond necklace. On page 614, it was revealed she would do anything to pay back the necklace with “The crushing debt had to be paid. She would pay it.” Mathilde wanted to take responsibility to help pay for the necklace; she knew it was her own fault and if she was not so self-less, this would not have happened. The narrator hints on page 614 “How would things have turned out if she hadn’t lost that necklace” This quote hints with the theme, how would it be like if Mathilde had appreciated what she had. Mathilde has learned an important lesson through the conflict of her losing the necklace.

Through the story’s settings, Guy De Maupassant has expressed how it contributes to the development of the story’s theme. The story is set in Paris; the author hints this by stating the currency on page 613 “It was worth 40,000 francs.” We are not given a clear visual idea of her house, but in many occasions are told how unhappy she is with it. For example, on page 609, Mathilde complains, “The poverty of her rooms- the shabby walls, the worn furniture, the ugly upholstery- caused her pain.” These details are important as they help created imagery of her mind versus what is really in her home; the contrast between reality and her fantasies. The setting affects the theme greatly as it shows how Mathilde will pretend to have more, but will have ten times less. To sum it all up, the theme, “Appreciate what you have instead of being envious of others” will continuously show throughout the story. Mathilde’s personality has displayed how she was ungrateful to others and has not appreciated what she presently had. The conflict presented how Mathilde started to realize her mistake and appreciate what she currently possessed. The setting demonstrated how Mathilde confused reality with her own dreams with her own disrespect of her house. The author has shown the theme multiple times through the story, “The Necklace” in which Mathilde Loisel has experienced and learned from.