the necklace short story analysis Flashcards
symbolism of necklace
The necklace, beautiful but worthless, represents the power of perception and the split between appearances and reality.
lesson
The moral lesson of the story, “the necklace” is that we shouldn’t live a materialistic life as it can make our life’s filled with sorrow and grief
irony
The horrible irony of the fact that the Loisels spent years paying off a replacement for what was actually a worthless necklace
conclusion
In conclusion, materialism is the most important element of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. Madame Loisel’s materialism was the reason she got herself in the debt. If she wasn’t as superficial she would not have demanded an expensive looking necklace, which when lost would have to be replaced at great cost.
conflict
In “The Necklace,” the internal conflict lies in the fact that Madame Loisel is embarrassed by her poverty. Even though she is physically beautiful, and married to an understanding husband, she believes that the key to her happiness lies in expensive necklaces, balls and the luxuries that comes with to being rich.
shocking end
revealing that the ten years of misery were unnecessary and could have been avoided if only Mathilde had been honest with Madame Forestier. Losing the necklace had seemed to be Mathilde’s fatal mistake, but it was actually Mathilde’s failure to be truthful with Madame Forestier that sealed her fate. This shocking realization sheds new light on the previous events and suggests that Mathilde’s future—even though her debts are now repaid—will be none too rosy.
jealousy
She cannot visit her wealthy friend Madame Forestier without being overcome with jealousy,
husband
Monsieur Loisel’s acceptance and contentment differ considerably from Mathilde’s emotional outbursts and constant dissatisfaction.Monsieur Loisel’s eagerness and willingness to please Mathilde becomes his downfall when she loses the necklace.He is the one who devises a plan for purchasing a replacement necklace and orchestrates the loans and mortgages that help them pay for it. Although this decision costs him ten years of hard work, he does not complain or imagine an alternate fate.
Mathilde’s husband. Monsieur Loisel is content with the small pleasures of his life but does his best to appease Mathilde’s demands and assuage her complaints. He loves Mathilde immensely but does not truly understand her, and he seems to underestimate the depth of her unhappiness. When Mathilde loses the necklace, Monsieur Loisel sacrifices his own future to help her repay the debt. He pays dearly for something he had never wanted in the first place.
background
The reality of Mathilde’s situation is that she is neither wealthy nor part of the social class of which she feels she is a deserving member, but Mathilde does everything in her power to make her life appear different from how it is. She lives in an illusory world where her actual life does not match the ideal life she has in her head—she believes that her beauty and charm make her worthy of greater things. The party is a triumph because for the first time, her appearance matches the reality of her life.
The Deceptiveness of Appearances
The deceptiveness of appearances is highlighted by Madame Forestier’s necklace, which appears to be made of diamonds but is actually nothing more than costume jewelry. The fact that it comes from Madame Forestier’s jewelry box gives it the illusion of richness and valu
The Danger of Martyrdom
Mathilde’s perception of herself as a martyr leads her to take unwise, self-serving actions. The Loisels live, appropriately, on the Rue des Martyrs, and Mathilde feels she must suffer through a life that is well beneath what she deserves. Unable to appreciate any aspect of her life, including her devoted husband, she is pained by her feeling that her beauty and charm are being wasted.
The Perceived Power of Objects
Mathilde believes that objects have the power to change her life, but when she finally gets two of the objects she desires most, the dress and necklace, her happiness is fleeting at bes
