There still exists some confusion about naturalism and determinism in literature. However, this confusion can be easily combated by analyzing the work of prominent authors like Guy de Maupassant and Stephen Crane. They helped to solidify determinism in literature during the naturalistic period. Naturalism, at its core, is the theory that all events, things, and being are natural. On the other hand, determinism claims the unyielding force of fate that does not allow alternatives. For example, when naturalism and determinism are combined, the reason for everything is that natural laws are immovable and inescapable.
This notion is what Stephen Crane tries to portray in his work, On the Open Boat. In this short story, the characters are outright confronted by the forces of nature. These forces, including the ocean, its currents, the winds, and the sun, control the characters’ lives, showing the determinism and naturalism in the power source. The source of control is nature and its laws, not a magical higher authority, demonstrating naturalism’s roots in this work. Determinism comes in the concept that characters are devoid of this power to act of their free will and determine their fate. Moreover, the events are random, as seen in the line, “shipwrecks are apropos of nothing.” Nature is indifferent to the character, and there is no greater meaning behind the events, “she was indifferent, flatly indifferent.” In other words, for Crane, nature itself is deterministic.
More complex themes arise in Guy de Maupassant’s The Necklace. First, the reader is led to believe that determinism in the fate of the main character, Mathilde, is driven symbolically by the lost necklace borrowed from Madame Forestier. Mathilde exclaims, “How would it have been if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows? How singular is life, and how full of changes! How small a thing will ruin or save one!”. She believes that her life and welfare are dependent on this necklace, and if she manages to get this necklace, she will achieve her dreams of prosperity, beauty, and happiness. However, it is revealed that the source of Mathilde’s agony was her inability to be truthful with Madame Forestier. She finds herself poor, old, and devoid of her youthful looks.
It can be guessed that inability to tell the truth is a deterministic driving force. However, it is not the case. Rather than that, determinism shows in Mathilde’s financial position and can be seen in the lines, “For women belong to no caste, no race; their grace, their beauty, and their charm serving them in the place of birth and family.” No matter how hard Mathilde works, even though she repaid her debt, she can never achieve the prosperity she dreams about compared to the girls born into wealth.
The Necklace can be considered one of the most significant and well-known works of Guy de Maupassant. The author wrote this short story in 1884; it was published in the same year for the first time. The Necklace presents an ironic ending, which is a distinct feature of de Maupassant’s writing style. This paper discusses the problem of appearance and reality presented in the story, as well as conveys de Maupassant’s idea behind its ending.
The Necklace
The story tells the reader about Mathilde Loisel, who has always wanted to be an aristocrat and follow an upper social class lifestyle. She dreams about wearing expensive clothes and having beautiful dresses and jewelry. Her dreams are a significant part of her life, and she is ashamed of her current social position and the house she has to live in. Mathilde’s husband invites her to the Ministry of Education party, and she decides to borrow a fancy necklace from one of her friends to attend this important event. After the party, the woman realizes that she had lost the necklace and tries to replace it, paying 40,000 francs for a similar and falling in debt for the next ten years. A decade later, the woman accidentally meets her friend again, who tells Mathilde that the piece of jewelry was fake and not worth much money.
Appearance vs. Reality in The Necklace
One of the major themes of the story is the difference between appearance and reality. From the beginning of the story, the reader can feel that Mathilde is irritated with her appearance and distressed with “the poverty of her apartment” and the reality she has to live in (De Maupassant 31). The woman is envious of other people, who live in houses with fine furniture, wear expensive clothes, and eat delicious food. She feels like she does not belong to her social class and is born into it by mistake. When Mathilde’s husband invites her to the party, the woman realizes that her appearance is different from the looks of its attendees. She imagines elegantly dressed people whose wealth radiates through their expensive clothes. Mathilde’s friend, Ms. Forestier, also belongs to the high class in the woman’s eyes, as she has many fine pieces of jewelry. At the party, Mathilde’s appearance becomes a success, as everyone seems interested in her. She sees that all those wealthy people she has always envied treat her as if she belonged to their social class.
However, de Maupassant wants to tell the reader that appearance does not mean anything and that envy has its price. Mathilde learns that the necklace was a fake, which means that nothing that the woman had believed is true. Expensive-looking dresses and jewelry, as well as individuals’ appearance, cannot tell others anything about their wealth. They only show how much effort a person puts in preserving their social position. By adding an ironic twist, the author shows that the classist attitude may be dangerous (Kuhn 18). He conveys the idea that appearances may be significantly different from reality, and it may be harmful to an individual to believe otherwise.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a notable piece of literature that conveys an important idea. It shows that perceptions based on other people’s appearances may differ from reality. One should not envy others because they seem wealthy or have a better social status. The outcomes of such misconception may result in negative outcomes, as it happened for Mathilde Loisel because she thought that the necklace was authentic.
Works Cited
De Maupassant, Guy. The Necklace and Other Short Stories. Dover Publications, 1992.
Kuhn, Gielle. Exploring French Short Stories: Guy de Maupassant’s Writing Style and Social Justice. 2016.
“The Necklace” is a tale that Guy de Maupassant wrote in 1884 to demonstrate how the desire to have more in life can ruin one’s life. The central theme of the story is the dangers of pride. Mathilde believes she is too pretty to live a simple life. When her spouse surprises her with an invitation to the Ministry’s celebration, she is displeased because she does not have an expensive dress to wear. “Instead of being delighted, as her husband hoped, she flung the invitation petulantly across the table…” (2). She borrows a necklace that seems so expensive from Madame Forestier. The piece gets lost at the party, and the family encounters hardships in replacing the jewelry. Mathilde feeds her pride for a night but pays for the consequences for about ten years with difficulty. Pride also makes Madame Forestier fail to acknowledge that the necklace is fake and does not cost that much money.
The theme of this story can be likened to the need to establish identity, portrayed in the “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” story. The main character, Connie, has the challenge of establishing an identity (MindTap Literature 3). The problem is brought about by her obsession with how she looks, how others perceive her, and the group mentality behind acting, talking, and dressing alike. As a result, she and her friends separate themselves from others who seem boring or uncool because of pride.
Character Analysis
Mathilde is a proud, sophisticated, and dissatisfied woman. She is unhappy with her current lifestyle and constantly dreams of the riches and glamour that she feels her beauty deserves. According to the text, “she imagined delicate food served in marvelous dishes, murmured gallantries, listened to with an inscrutable smile as one trifled with the rosy flesh of trout or wings of asparagus chicken” (1). She has sophisticated taste in clothes, jewelry, and food. Mathilde is proud of her beauty, which prompts her to feel that she deserves a high-class life. She is not satisfied with her life because “She had no clothes, no jewels, nothing. And these were the only things she loved; she felt that she was made for them” (2). As a result, she develops greedy desires and loses them all.
Works Cited
Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace.” Le Gaulois, 1884, pp. 1-10. Web.
The necklace story indicates how one’s attraction to something can change his or her life completely. Madam Mathilde Loise’s desire for jewelry to march to her gown to look pretty in the party led her family to more misery than the respect and honor that she was looking forward to, as she wanted to outstand, other clerks wives invited to the party. The necklace story relates very well to our real life. We are attracted to several things that will make us out stand from others, Mathilde Loise just like most of us felt that she must look pretty at the party to extend of spending all her husband’s savings in purchasing a gown to wear on the event day. Despite all the struggles, her husband went through to make her happy she did not get satisfied, as she still needed something else to march to the gown. It is true that when we want to compete with other friends, we go to a far point of spending all our savings to ensure that we look different, we can be easily noticed and our presence is recognized.
The truth kills and hurts most especially when you know how much you have struggled to earn something. Mathilde Loise and her husband have struggled for ten years trying all their best to ensure that they pay all the depth that they have incurred after the necklace got lost and it was not found even after reporting to the police station, advertising, and promising to give a reward to anyone who will find and returns the necklace. It is painful to realize that something worth less than five hundred francs can make one go through such misery for ten good years. It could be better if she has not known the truth. Mathilde Loise had sacrificed all her life for ten years to assist her husband in repaying the loans plus interests that had accumulated. As they did not have money to purchase the necklace, they had to use all their savings that are, the money that was left for Mathilde Loise by her father and her husband savings, but the money was not enough so they had to borrow extra money from friends to raise the much-needed money for a new necklace.
Towards the end of the story, Mathilde Loise decides to tell the truth to Madame Forestier concerning the necklace and the misery that she had undergone. Madame Forestier was mush surprised if not astonished by the revelation given by her friend, she informed Mathilde Loise that she did not need to worry herself that much as the necklace was a paste, in other words, it was not original, but coated with the diamond coat. The necklace would have not cost more than five hundred francs. The findings from Madame Forestier must have surprised Mathilde Loise. She must have asked herself several questions, which made her feel guilty of all troubles; she had befallen her husband and her. For all those years, I have been suffering because of a pasted necklace? Why didn’t I know that it was not an original diamond necklace? Why didn’t I tell Madame Forestier that her necklace had got lost, it could have saved me and my husband all the agony and shame that we had undergone for ten sold years? Why? Why? And many more questions had rung into her head as she blames herself.
This is something that has tutored her, it has haunted her consciousness, made her regret why she had borrowed it in the first place. This is one of many incidences that sully happen to us; we borrow something nice from our friends to use for a short time, then we return. If anything happens to the item, we feel offended, to tell the truth to the owner, we struggle through our means to ensure that we have replaced the item and return it in good condition. The fear of being seen as careless or thief engraves our heart to extend that we cannot tell the truth no matter what. We swallow the bitter bills all alone, where else if we could have gathered courage and faced the reality, we would avoid a series of agony and misery like this one that befalls Mathilde Loise. If she was brave enough to face Madame Forestier and explain the whole story to her, let her know that she intends to replace it with another one, gather the information concerning where the necklace was bought from, she could have saved herself and her husband a lot of stress that they had undergone for ten years.
The necklace story tries to bring out the need of telling the truth before a situation gets worse. Although the truth hurts in some situation it is good, to tell the truth before one commits him/herself to do something that will change his or her life forever.
Literature is a medium that lets people express their creative potential in writing. By creating stories and narratives, writers are able to discuss and dissect topics that are both interesting to them and topical to society at large. Written language as a medium of creating meaning has a large number of layers, constructing understanding at a basic emotional and deeper comprehensive level. Through reading and writing works of literature, people get to think about the world they live in, about the presuppositions and traditions we come to know, the wondrous and unexpected, as well as that which is shared in the common human experience. In light of the importance placed on written fiction in society, some works of art are considered to be more vital, more monumental, for a variety of reasons. Some of them are the first example of a particular style, or a documented shift in the medium, while others present narratives of great cultural importance.
The criteria by which stories are noted and remembered is strictly arbitrary, but it cannot be denied that most works considered to be “classics”, those that are taught to children, present cultural, artistic, and historic importance. Through their examination, one can come to better understand the people of days past, the traditions and habits permeating their society, as well as to see a reflection of their reality on paper. Thematically, works of literature often talk about the universal through specific experiences, connecting with the reader by making them see parallels to reality in fiction.
Ideas of people’s identity are often explored in literature. Identity is something a person forms through their life, something that is shaped by themselves as much as by their environment. By interacting with others, living through particular events, and learning, people get to become themselves, to form a particular relationship with the world around them and the people in it. This process can be influenced by various other factors that are discussed in the literature, such as a person’s status and class. The individual’s lineage, wealth, manners, social circle, interests, they all comprise what is known as their niche in society. Written word takes up perspectives of all kinds of people from most miserable to most fortunate. The opportunities given to a person from their social standing, or a lack thereof, strongly influence how they interact with others and see themselves.
Class, Identity and the Themes “The Necklace”
A class, especially in times of the past, was often something you had no power over, a slot of society you had no choice but to reside in. For some, it brought happiness and satisfaction, for others, it was a source of struggle and discontent. The class was a limiting factor and a point from which other people could understand one’s social significance. In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace”, the main heroine is caught in a struggle between her real and perceived status, becoming an initial trigger for the main conflict. Class is depicted as something that differentiates people’s lifestyles in the story, a defining factor for Mathilde’s personal happiness. In the light of not having been born into wealth, the woman puts on appearances. The act of pretense as a method of living is explored and ridiculed in the story, serving as the main interest point for the potential reader. Mathilde’s actions and behavior are used as a signifier of the position she was “born for”, a way for the heroine to get something she feels is owed to her – a high social status. The need to actively present oneself in an exaggerated manner is what, in essence, brings about the conflict of the story, and hurts Mathilde the most. The unnecessary need to impress others and maintain one’s public image is lampshaded and criticized in the work, mainly through showing the consequences of such behavior to the audience.
The Plot and The Characters
The plot, in essence, is focused on two characters: Mathilde Loisel and her husband. The lady is the main point-of-view character, who is shown to us to be discontent with her way of life. Having been born into a middle-class family, she was denied an opportunity for a lavish, beautiful life she dreamed of. She spends her days thinking about the things she feels “deprived of”, a kind of carefree existence that is only accessible to those that have the privilege of having money and status. Her incessant desire to be someone of high social status is understandable, and easily recognizable from the first few sentences of the story, however, Mathilde’s seeming obsession with her own perceived importance stops her from truly appreciating the things she has. Her husband, a middle-of-the-road clerk, while not having much money to his name, truly tries to understand his wife and help her when she needs it. His monetary savings are insufficient to truly make her life as rich as she would want it to be, but he still tries to be both helpful and understanding for her sake. Despite having saved for a gun to hunt with, he readily decides to give the money to his wife, saying “Very well. I will give you four hundred francs. And try to have a pretty gown” (de Maupassant). Both characters have a diametrically opposite way of looking at status, with Mathilde seeing her life position as something shameful and in need of hiding, and her husband treating it with a sense of normalcy. The difference can be attributed as the main reason why the former feels the need to amplify her social status in front of others, and is deeply unsatisfied with her position.
Mathilde’s husband seems to be overall content with his position in life, he is content with being a representative of the middle class without excessive wealth. The same, however, cannot be said about his wife. Mathilde’s entire being in the first part of the story hinges on her social standing. Having had an ability to dress well for the party, the woman feels the happiest she has been in a long time while dancing and feigning an appearance of a high-class citizen. Mathilde’s self-image and self-perception are tightly interconnected with her ability to appear elegant and regal, which is why she was beside herself when trying on the jewelry her friend lent her. Later on in the story, the reader can further see the dichotomy between reality and fakery in the form of the titular necklace. Seen by Mathilde, and the people around her, as a symbol of wealth and prestige, the piece of jewelry forms a central part of the narrative. For the heroine, an ability to wear the necklace is akin to finally realizing her true potential, being seen by society for who she truly feels she is. Madame Forestier, the original owner of the necklace, is seen by Mathilde as an epitome of a well-off lady, something she feels most similar to. However, despite their similarities, and the perceived exceptionalism of their status, neither of them could truly measure the value of the necklace. Mathilde did not notice that the accessory she was wearing was a replica, and Madame Forestier could not see the difference between the one she had and a genuine article. The inability of two women to truly understand the worth of the necklace is reflective of the arbitrary nature of social status and the need to keep up appearances.
Major Themes and Ideas
Social Class in Contemporary Society
Social Class is a notion deeply ingrained into the culture and tradition of many societies. Used as a way to differentiate people according to their wealth and prestige, it has been a defining trait of many societies. In many ways, social status also dictates how a person is treated, what is expected of them, and the kinds of people they interact with. In the modern times, the concept of a social class has been significantly degraded, but at the time of writing “The Necklace”, the 19th century, it was still mostly prevalent. For a woman during that time, as noted both by the short story itself and historic records, one’s status defined the kinds of daily tasks a lady would perform. Middle-to-low income people were mostly occupied with work and more manual labor, often having to do house chores by themselves or with limited assistance. Those pertaining to higher classes, on the contrary, could often indulge in more leisure activities due to having servants and monetary security (Gleadle). Education and the ability to receive knowledge were also more widespread among the rich, making it easier for them to enjoy a variety of different activities (Bernstein). More wealth also meant an ability to indulge in various decorum, clothing and accessories, all of which were far less accessible to the common folk.
In the short story, the reader can see that Mathilde dreams exactly of such a lifestyle, a living devoid of hard work and defined by her ability to do things to her leisure. She felt utterly alienated from her own household because it paled in comparison to what she imagined herself to be entitled to. As stated in the text: “She thought of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestry, illumined by tall bronze candelabra, and of two great footmen in knee breeches who sleep in the big armchairs, made drowsy by the oppressive heat of the stove” (de Maupassant). Descriptions the author uses reveal Mathilde’s deep-seated dissatisfaction with a life someone of similar standing would have considered good or normal.
Appearance as a Way of Signaling Status
In many cases, a person’s clothing and overall appearance can be telling of their social standing, and that is not an exception in this short story. Clothing is largely determined by the kinds of materials a person can afford, and whether they can spend their money on something less necessary than everyday outfits. One’s dressing can be especially telling about their standing among other people, and define how they will be treated in return. As it is noted by the text, Madame Loisel was from a middle-income household, and her husband could afford her some purchases purely to satisfy her desire to look good. Before the part, the audience gets to learn that Mathilde has one dress – the one that she wears to the theatre. This fact can tell the reader that her family is rich enough to visit the theater on a regular basis but not well-off enough to have more than one set of clothes for the occasion. When preparing for the party, the heroine’s husband indulges her in buying another dress but does not have the ability to provide her with matching accessories. The moderate spending, which is noted to be rather laborious for the husband, is indicative of the two’s low social status and class. Later on in the story, it is also noted that Mr. Loisel’s father left him a sum that is not even enough to cover the cost of the replacement diamond necklace. The family has to work for 10 years and deny themselves a lot of previous necessities only to pay of debt from buying the jewelry piece. In this way, the description of the family’s financial situation and their struggle to buy things can be seen as a signifier of their class. The overall state of the pair can be seen as an explanation for their respective behavior, and the main source of tension in the work.
The family’s position can also be used to further contextualize the feelings of being deprived that Mathilde experiences. With Madame Loisel’s change in status, her attire and appearance also change. Before the party, she is often noted to be graceful, elegant, beautiful, having the mannerisms and ambitions of a rich person. Having to work manual labor and pay off debt, however, has changed her drastically. She now looked much older, her clothing much simpler and her appearance rougher. Mathilde’s exterior changed to match the circumstances imposed on her by life (Simandan). Having become “strong and hard and rough” (De Maupassant), the woman is now the epitome of the poor working-class family of the time, having much fewer concerns over her life and appearance. The change is so radical that even her supposed friend, Madame Forestier has a hard time recognizing her at face value. While it is uncertain, it can also be noted that the woman’s dissatisfaction and resentment of her life have come to pass, exchanged for the daily openness and busywork of common life.
Social Status and Identity
Identity is a person’s whole being and perception of oneself, as created in collaboration with their surroundings. As a part of a person’s character that is largely informed by their surroundings, identity was often something individuals created based on traits shared with a group with others. Nationality, race, gender, and other large identifiers are all often used to construct a person’s being. Social status can also be considered an influential component towards cultivating an identity and can often create a particular type of person as a result (Manstead). Mathilde, in my opinion, uses social status as the core foundation for her identity. Throughout the story, her status changes, and with it, her appearance and behaviors also change. Mathilde’s actions and thoughts are in large part informed by her desire to become closer to her “ideal” image of her status, and she often imagines the life she would lead if born into wealth. Personally, I think that this attitude is tied to the fact that the woman has connected her identity to her social status in an unhealthy manner. The disparity between the imagined and the reality brings her pain, and the monetary conditions of her household are not suitable to quell that pain. Her self-image does not match the conditions she lives in, and she presently does not have any way to change this fact. As a result, even simple tasks of her daily life bring Mathilde dissatisfaction, as she sees living as an unjust struggle.
At first, she adamantly refuses to visit the party her husband got her tickets for, in large part due to the inability to match to her own standards for the occasion. Once she is able to secure both a suitable dress for the occasion and some jewelry, the woman’s attitude soon changes in a positive direction. The audience can see the “dysphoria” of Mathilde be calmed when her appearance matches with her self-perception. During the party, the lady can finally feel like the center of attention, free and in her element, as the need to present as a member of high society is fulfilled by the combination of her setting, clothing, and behavior. The ability to appear more beautiful than anyone at the party, catch sights of other men at the gathering, and dance to her heart’s content fulfilled Mathilde’s sense of belonging, made her a part of the group she desperately based her existence around. This temporary performative allegiance to a group Madame Loisel has managed to get, however, stopped right after losing the necklace. While the woman still held onto her pride, she was no longer able to abide by the strict and posh rules of high society, having the issue of paying for the lost necklace looming over her.
After returning the necklace to her friend, Mathilde once again had to adopt a new identity, one that was in an even larger part shaped by her circumstance. Being forced into manual labor, the woman’s appearance was not the only part that changed, as the core of her very being was altered by the experience. She now more closely identified with the struggles of the poor, having to experience and live through them first-hand, and has also developed a loudness more characteristic of women that needed to make themselves heard. The narrative paints a picture of a far more simple, less ambitious about her position in life, and tired by the constant need to work. I think that the narrative presented by the story portrays two things in an intriguing amount of detail: the way one’s environment affects their self-image, and how pretense can bring about dissatisfaction and disappointment. Mathilde’s actions and character change drastically throughout the story, and all of the changes were primarily fueled by a need to answer to an extenuating circumstance. The main reason why Madame Loisel had to go through the suffering she did was precise because of her incessant need to identify with a group she did not belong to, which, as a consequence brought about further misfortune in her life.
Conclusion
Literature is a vehicle for expressing ideas, a method to discuss, present, and organize thought for other people to understand. Throughout history, the written language has served as one of the primary ways of translating the meaning, utilizing the art of pen and paper to both ponder the intricacies of the human experience and form understanding with others. In many cases, literary art is utilized to bring up themes and ideas that are more ethereal in nature, to explore societal phenomena in a safe environment. In the case of classic literature, themes and topics presented often coincide with the main concerns that visit people in their lives, and the types of struggles individuals have to face in their lives.
The Necklace, written by Guy de Maupassant, is an interesting, although short commentary on a number of issues, including class differences, identity, and people’s tendency to put on appearances. The text presents a narrative that encourages readers to critically examine the actions of the main character, lampoons their behavior through dramatic irony, and delivers a universally relatable message. The author tries to make the readers understand that the practice of trying to impress others with your achievements or social standing is an ultimately pointless task and that the true value of any object is determined by the individual, not by its price. The main protagonist of the story, Madame Mathilde Loisel, is a dishonest person, having lived most of her life in dreams of a better life. She feels that she deserves something better than she has, seeing herself as an unfortunately misplaced damsel in distress that was made for a rich life. Having been born into a middle-class family and married to a man in the same wealth range, she never had the ability to realize her dreams, harboring a deep-seated dissatisfaction with all aspects of her social position. This discrepancy between her desires and reality has manifested in the woman’s need to present an appearance of wealth and fortune onto others. All of this information is presented to the reader through the combination of a narrative description and Mathilde’s dialogue with her husband while preparing for the party. She puts in her best efforts to create a perfect image of herself before the attendees of the party, basking in the attention and validation it gives her. As the reader can understand from the woman’s dissatisfaction with her daily life, such an opportunity does not present itself before her often, making the occasion especially memorable for the heroine.
The inability to experiment with the true joys of a rich and carefree life eats away at Mathilde, making her unable to appreciate the humble household and the loving husband she has. She feels the need to present herself as a character that has no chance of ever becoming true and misses the good parts of her life in the process. After the party, her life changes abruptly, now having to pay back for all the loans she and her husband took to pay for the necklace. The plunges the pair’s social status into the ground, costing them the limited privileges they already had. The change affects Mathilde both physically and mentally, affecting a change in her appearance as well as her whole identity. Her looks become more rough with the change in her daily routine, her clothing changes, no longer much concerned with appearances and favoring practicality. Mathilde becomes a straightforward, loud-mouthed, and hardworking woman, much removed from the high society she felt destined for. The need to face the consequences of her choices is what has driven the lady to this point, and can be considered retribution for the deception she engaged in before that.
mouThe entire narrative is presented as a critique of the expensive and lavish lifestyle, categorizing people that adhere to it as shallow and unable to truly understand the value of particular things beyond its appearance, as was the case with the necklace. The fakeness and the performative nature of the main heroine’s actions are also recognized by the narrative and punished through having to live a rough life of a commoner. This type of lampshading is often used to make people consider the aspects of their life they did not pay attention to in a new light. By effectively showcasing the futility of pretend status, this work succeeds in sparking conversation.
Works Cited
Manstead, Antony S. “The Psychology of Social Class: How Socioeconomic Status Impacts Thought, Feelings, and Behaviour.” British Journal of Social Psychology 57.2 (2018): 267-91. Print.
De Maupassant, Guy. “Short Stories: The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant.” East of the Web. Web.
Gleadle, Kathryn. British Women in the Nineteenth Century. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001. Print.
Bernstein, Basil B. “SOCIAL CLASS, LANGUAGE AND SOCIALISATION.” Linguistics and Adjacent Arts and Sciences (1974): 1545-562. Print.
Simandan, Dragos. “Rethinking the Health Consequences of Social Class and Social Mobility.” Social Science & Medicine 200 (2018): 258-61. Print.
The focal point of the paper is to analyze the theme of insecurity in the short story ‘The Necklace’ by Guy De Maupassant and translated by Marjorie Laurie. It is true that economic inequalities in society are a curse and is reminiscent of the imbalance of the society and has given rise to a sense of insecurity on the individual level. The possible argument presented in this context would be that of Maupassant because he indicated the faults of the society with hard proof whereas the others simply approached the issue in a philosophic manner. However, it should also be stated that the economic inequalities of society, and the cause of the insecurity, are basically a need in a way. This is because the nature of wealth is to constantly accumulate. The moment there is forceful equality of economic wealth would start to accumulate in one way or the other resulting in minute economic inequalities in the initial stages and distinctive and gigantic economic inequalities in the end. Thus, it could be stated that economic inequality is inevitable, if not essential, for any society as long as it is within the boundaries and parameters that society is able to sustain but simultaneously it gives rise to social and personal insecurity that is evident in the short story ‘The Necklace’ (Kar, pp. 177-9).
Insecurity, or social insecurity, plays a fundamental part in the story. It is the social norms of wealth that the protagonists are trying to protect and sustain their position in late nineteenth-century Paris. The protagonists are lacking in economic equality with their acquaintances. However, they are always afraid of losing their faces due to it. They are insecure and they are opting for any and every method of saving their social face. The husband, M. Loisel, is trying to buy a gun for 400 francs in order to “treat himself to a little shooting next summer” so that he can accompany “with several friends, who went to shoot larks” (Maupassant, p. 60). That 400 franc is worth a lot to him but he is willing to part with it as he would be socially insecure if he fails to be at par with his friends.
The same insecurity becomes evident when we find that he is willing to give away the amount kept for the gun so that she can buy a necklace for the invitation because “there is nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich”(Maupassant, 60). This is the same insecurity feeling of being left alone in the social norms. However, the most debatable issue of this story among literary scholars and enthusiasts remains until date about the conclusion or end part of the story. Here it is seen that the Loisels are found to be wanting in the context of social norms of riches. The focal point of this debate remains in the possibility of the purpose of the redemption of the necklace. There are various interpretations related to the basic existence of the necklace altogether. In other words, the basic reason for the writer to bring in the necklace is very interesting indeed. The disappearance of the necklace in the middle phase is also very interesting reading in the sense that it is not very common for a story of the author’s era in Paris to complete as a story almost with unfinished settlements but mostly with awe. This is the reason literature critics feel or believe that in the story the necklace of Loisel hardly exists. According to them, the ornament is just another stroke of genius by the author when he presented the necklace not so much as a social or an intellectual metaphor but simply as a parody to mock the existing social convention that creates more insecurity among individuals than stability (Kar, p.181).
However, a regret of the loss of the necklace and the redemption of it through extreme hardships can well be seen as an act of revenge against social oppression by the upper class towards the unprivileged. Here the Loisels climbed down the economic ladder in order to save their faces in front of their known economic levels of social mode. It was their insecurity of being outclassed by their friends and acquaintances that made them work hard to recover the money lost. This oppression of social-economic class could well be enumerated as a reversal of power within France in days to come. But then again, a different interpretation can be presented with the return of the necklace the Loisel’s remained to the society and it can well be a symbolic gesture by which the author shows the remorse of the prevailing society in the most collective sense. This remorse may well be a suggestive measure by the society that failed to accept and treat Loisels with more compassion and well-being-without making them insecure. This insecurity had taken a huge toll on the couple and at the end of the story; we find the woman was the most suffered character. Mme. Loisel “looked old now. She had become the woman of impoverished households- strong and hard and rough.” (Maupassant, p. 65). In simple terms, the social insecurity brought to the Loisels what they tried hard to avoid and were positively afraid of- poverty and social degradation.
The basic theme of the story presents a profound essence of humane values or better to say the writer indicates towards a civilization that is developed in all sense but in human values that deals in the social norms of economic inequalities and its members to suffer in the feeling of insecurity. The result was pitiful, they worked and worked, and “this life lasted for ten years” (Maupassant, p.65). This concept could have been regarded as an act of initial socialism but with Maupassant, the approach does not merely is confined within the framework of social justice but evokes a sense of love and compassion whereby it makes the reader possible to love this characters of a couple to its interiority. They are common to the core and they know it very well in their hearts. The sense of consumerism is virtually overwhelming in them but it is the maintaining status and insecurity of losing it that comes out as the most instrumental determinant (Lamb, p. 227).
Works Cited
Maupassant, Guy De; The Necklace; trans. Marjorie Laurie; pp. 59-65; 1934
Kar, P; Consumer Market in Literature (Kolkata: Dasgupta & Chatterjee 2005) p. 145
Lamb, Davis; Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization; (Wellington: National Book Trust. 2004)
This paper will examine the change of Madame Mathilde Loise’s character in the story The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant as she undergoes conflicts that shape her personality. Generally, most women aspire to be beautiful and polished, gorgeous and elegant, admired and enthralling. Although looks might be deceiving, it is normal for individuals to portray themselves how they want to be. Women are seen as more dishonest than males due to the fact that they use their innate charisma and attractiveness to appear attractive. Basically, people live in a denial state; nevertheless, it is essential to evaluate all potential outcomes. Character is a literary element in Maupassant’s The Necklace; Madame Mathilde Loisel has had several difficulties that have caused her to fight minor wars inside herself due to how she thinks about her social rank.
Madame Loisel is a self-centered, egocentric individual who disregards the sentiments of others and pursues her wants at any cost. The only thing that does not align with her desires is her actual life, which is not as wealthy and luxurious as she craves. Mathilde fantasizes about expensive items she cannot afford, such as “a superb diamond necklace, and her heart began to beat with uncontrolled desire,” and even desires to be loaned the items (Short Stories: The Necklace 4). Nevertheless, her spouse is an average clerk whose greatest desire is to own a gun “He turned a little pale because he had been saving that exact amount to buy a gun and treat himself to a hunting trip…” (Short Stories: The Necklace 3). Mathilde believes that her husband is unable to pursue anything other than a mundane existence as a clerk, and she views this as the primary cause of conflict in their relationship.
Mathilde is continually unsatisfied with her status in life, and she always dreams about elegance and wealth. According to Mathilde’s predicaments, she cannot attend a ball without the proper attire and jewelry, which is the problem. As such, Loisel portrays a little child who desires a doll but does not desire a typical one. As the narrative goes on, Mathilde reveals her character as spoiled, impulsive, and self-willed, and audiences can tell that she is an egotistic young woman who is self-centered. On the night out, she dances and enjoys the evening at the ball as she evades her daily life troubles while she enjoys a temporary world of fantasies.
Madame Loisel undergoes character-altering transformations as she becomes a responsible woman and she resents her past. Initially, Loisel believed she was bound to reside in a superior social category, but her current status subjected her to frustrations “the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains” provoked her resentment (Short Stories: The Necklace 1). Nevertheless, as the narrative progresses, Loisel has limited options; hence, she is compelled to live in a poor house and labor tirelessly to repay the necklace loan. This circumstance causes her to abandon her aspirations and develop into a resilient woman. For example, she began working tirelessly to pay off her debt. Thus, this indicates that Mathilde undergoes changes throughout the narrative. The woman alters her vision of life, learns to embrace her societal place, and cherishes her existence.
Therefore, self-conflict causes individuals to change their characters. The narrative’s main character, Madame Loisel, undergoes a transformation from a self-centered and dissatisfied individual to a self-reliant and hardworking individual. As a young woman, she believes her aspirations and ambitions to be the most important aspects of her existence, which must be accomplished at any cost. Nonetheless, the circumstances suggest that she needs to be a reasonable person who acts according to her societal rank. Mathilde’s willingness to assist her husband in returning the debt demonstrates that she has learned this lesson accordingly.
Written by Guy de Maupassant in 1881, The Necklace is a captivating short story that ends in a surprise. It is the most eye-catching work of Maupassant with all words contributing to the events that the narrative unfolds. It has garnered him a lot of acknowledgment.
The tale is set in Paris, France specifically covering Loisel’s home and the neighborhoods, ministry of education inclusive. Employing the elements of literature, Maupassant has used characters like monsieur Loisel, a clerk in the ministry of education, Mathilde, Loisel’s wife, Madame Jeanne Forestier, Mathilde’s neighbor and friend, Housemaid, Mathilde’s house servant, among others.
The writer takes the reader through the life of these characters and in particular, the poor family of Loisel and the rich family of Forestier. It unfolds that the kind of life depicted by these two categories of people is far from the reality. This illustration builds up the prevailing theme of the narrative ‘the deceptiveness of appearance’, which the writer employs to show how people are deceived by the appearance of others.
Deceptiveness of appearance
Mathilde is a reasonably attractive girl regardless of her unfortunate family backgrounds. She regrets much owing to this poverty because she always compares herself with the other girls from well up homes. For instance, Forestier’s family is rich. She gets married to a mere government clerk. The ministry of education organizes a party for all its staff members, giving them a chance to invite their wives or husbands.
Ironically, thinking that this would thrill his wife, Loisel on delivering the invitation, realizes that it is more of a stress than joy to her. “Instead of being delighted, she threw the invitation on the table with disdain murmuring…” (Maupassant 39). The reason behind this is that she lacks elegant dresses and necklaces like other women, a case that makes her imagine how odd she can be if she attends the occasion.
They end up borrowing these from Forestier, but unfortunately the necklace gets lost after the event, an incidence that costs Loisel’s family virtually everything as they toil for ten years looking the money to purchase another one. They finally buy 36000 francs worthy necklace but on returning it to Forestier; she reveals its cost as just 500 francs. They are now in a severe financial crisis, though had they realized the truth, this would not be the case.
A major problem that the writer fails to clarify is whether Forestier resells the necklace to refund the extra money in order to reduce the debt incurred or not. This paves way to criticisms of his story, though he has managed to develop the dominant theme of the story. Mathilde stands out in the party as a rich and a high class wife owing to the diamond-appearing necklace that the people fail to realize that it was borrowed.
Still on this theme, Forestier’s family is depicted as financially stable. It can afford some of the expensive things that poor families imagine of. Forestier has, not only one but many of them, unlike her counterpart Mathilde.
She wears them when attending great occasions, a case that earns her a good deal of recognition from other people. This is what Mathilde is yearning for. She wants to appear like her friend. She wants people to view her as rich. The writer shows how she longs for a recognized family name as well as an expensive dowry. By this she feels that she will appear like other rich families.
She is pictured as one, who is ever working towards achieving this reality, though what she publicizes is not what is on the ground. For instance, in the party, she appears the most elegant, a situation that makes all people want to chat with her, owing to what they are seeing, an expensive looking dress and a diamond necklace, but little do they know about the truth of the matter.
Following the issue behind Forestier’s necklace, it stands out that it is not made of diamond as people perceive. Though what appears in their eyes is the diamond look on the necklace, the story ends when Forestier reveals that it is just a mere coating. To strengthen his theme, the writer wants to show how the rich end up deceiving other people through their possessions.
Most of them appear costly before the eyes of people but rarely are they in their real senses. The value attached to some items, owing to their appearance, turns out to be many times different from their real values. For instance, the necklace appears 72 times expensive. The writer succeeds in showing how people mistake the rich people.
They have been portrayed as just appearing as if they are rich, which is not the case. Worthy noting is that the writer does not clarify about the child who appears to walk with Forestier. It is not clear whether he is intending to elaborate his theme further by introducing images of people who are not real characters, or not. This again welcomes criticisms to his works.
The Necklace: Conclusion
Though dead and forgotten, Maupassant works speak volumes of his existence. The ideas behind his Necklace narrative stands out clear today. The issue of appearance is now everywhere with people struggling to hide their real selves in order to mislead others. Items have been manufactured bearing a false identity of others only to trick people. This is the kind of life that the writer was prophesying through the use of his major theme ‘the deceptiveness of appearance’ that he develops through the different characters.
Works Cited
Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace” France: Word Press, 1881. P. 38-44.
“The Necklace” is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in 1888. The moral of the story is that individuals should be content with their current circumstances and avoid translating the fake image. The story conveys that seeking only materialistic wealth and impersonating someone a person is not led to deplorable results. Thus, “The Necklace” teaches readers that even though one might appear in a particular way, seeming rich or happy, it is not always true.
This story has a moral that is delivered through the hidden message of the work. It could be seen from the story plot, which reflects the issue of life values through the example of the main characters. Mathilde and Mr. Loisel would not have been in debt for ten years if Mathilde had not misplaced the necklace or even asked to borrow it. Because Mathilde had to borrow the jewelry to appear wealthier, she and Mr. Loisel faced adverse consequences.
The main character of the story, Mathilde Loisel, and her husband had no financial possessions; she lacked clothing and jewelry. Mathilde came from a working-class family but dreamed about “all the delicacies and luxuries of life” (Guy de Maupassant 1). She fantasized about having a lot of money, nice clothes, and a lovely home. Nevertheless, she was well aware that her ambitions were unreasonable and unreachable.
Once, Mathilde and her husband have decided to go to a ball to enjoy the posh atmosphere of the event. Even though they had no money for such occasions, Mathilde has spent all of her husband’s money to buy a pretty dress. Still not satisfied with her looks, she borrowed a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend. However, the necklace was lost at the end of the event, which left Mathilde and her husband with enormous debts. They were forced to work until the end of their lives to return the money borrowed for the necklace purchase.
The moral of the story “The Necklace” is that society should not condemn people based on their outward appearances because even though they may look wealthy and successful, it might not be accurate in reality. It educates readers not to lust for material items but to appreciate what they already have. The lesson of “The Necklace” is that individuals should not think beyond their capabilities and should be content with what they possess and who they are.
Work Cited
Guy de Maupassant, Henri René Albert. The Necklace. Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1884.
Mathilde wants to go to balls and be in the company of nobles, but she cannot afford it because she is the wife of a government clerk who earns little, and she also does not have beautiful dresses and jewelry. One day her husband comes home with an invitation to the ministerial ball, and to feel proud there, Mathilde buys an expensive gown with her spouse’s money and borrows a necklace from her friend, a more fortunate and wealthy woman. The couple loses the diamond necklace on the way home, and to return the lost one to Madame Forestier, they decide to substitute it by buying the jewelry looking exactly similar, for which they sacrifice their property and become poor.
Hard Working is the Only Way to True Joy
De Maupassant discussed socio-economic inequality in the 19th century and the essence of true happiness in “The Necklace,” his central claim is that only great efforts can bring true happiness, whereas the easy way can only bring temporary, poisonous pleasure. At the short story’s end, Mathilde smiles “with a joy that was at once proud and ingenuous” for the first time in ten years because both her deceit was successful, and she and her husband paid off all their debts. It is the first time the author combines the concepts of joy and sincerity of Mathilde’s feelings together in “The Necklace;” this scene also creates a drastic contrast with the beginning of the short story, when the heroine is sad. By creating a contradiction between the tones of the opening and closing parts of the story, while showing a ten-year storyline of the couple, the writer hints to readers that true happiness is achievable only through great effort and work.
Pleasure is easily Achievable yet Poisonous
The idea put into “The Necklace” is complex, and it involves not only joy but also the fact that an individual can confuse happiness with pleasure, with the only effective way to distinguish these is by knowing the preceding path. De Maupassant writes about Mathilde at the ball “she danced with rapture, with passion, intoxicated by pleasure, forgetting all in the triumph of her beauty … in a sort of cloud of happiness” as if she in a toxic mist. Such a choice of words and them being present in one phrase is not accidental since this author’s smart move is a subtle and nuanced hint for the audience of “The Necklace” happiness and pleasure are fundamentally different emotional states. Before this idea, the author showed that it was easy for Mathilde to get into an event similar to those she dreamed of; this storyline sequence motivates the audience to conclude that the easy way leads only to temporary pleasure.
Work Cited
De Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace.”American Literature, Web.