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- In ‘The Necklace’, Guy de Maupassant explores the relationship between appearance and reality. The necklace, of course, is the most explicit example of this: it looks like a genuine diamond necklace but is actually an imitation or fake. And this final twist in the tale leads us to think more carefully about the other details of the story.
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- Themes
In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant demonstrates the...
- Plot Summary
However, disaster strikes when she loses the necklace during...
- Characters
Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every...
- Themes
Analysis. In ‘The Necklace’, Guy de Maupassant explores the relationship between appearance and reality. The necklace, of course, is the most explicit example of this: it looks like a genuine diamond necklace but is actually an imitation or fake. And this final twist in the tale leads us to think more carefully about the other details of the story.
Overview. “The Necklace” is a short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1884. It tells the story of Mathilde Loisel, a young woman who borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend to wear to a high-society event, only to lose it and spend the next ten years of her life in poverty trying to replace it.
- Characters
- Summary
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- Theme
The story centers on three characters: Mathilde Loisel, Monsieur Loisel, and Madame Forestier. Mathilde, the main character, is beautiful and social, and she wants expensive items to match her sophisticated taste. But she was born into a clerk's family and ends up marrying another clerk, so she can't afford the clothing, accessories, and household ...
Monsieur Loisel presents Mathilde with an invitation to the Ministry of Education's formal party, which he expects will make Mathilde happy because she will be able to mingle with high society. Mathilde is immediately upset, however, because she doesn't have a gown that she believes is nice enough to wear to the event. Mathilde's tears sway Monsieu...
Given its central role in the short story, the necklace is an important symbolof deception. Mathilde had dressed for the party in expensive clothes and a sparkling but borrowed accessory to briefly escape her humble life by pretending to a station she did not hold. Similarly, the jewelry represents the illusion of wealth in which Madame Forestier a...
The short story's themeinvolves the pitfalls of pride. Mathilde's pride in her beauty prompts her to buy an expensive dress and borrow seemingly expensive jewelry, which triggers her downfall. She fed her pride for one night but paid for it over the next 10 years of hardship, which destroyed her beauty. Pride also prevented her friend from acknowle...
- Esther Lombardi
Oct 27, 2023 · A Feminist and Formalist Analysis of "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant: Two Approaches to Interpreting a Literary Work - Owlcation. Jennifer Wilber. Updated: Oct 27, 2023 5:48 PM EDT. Let's talk about Guy de Maupassant's famous short story "The Necklace," first from a formalist perspective, then from a feminist perspective.
Summary. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Guy de Maupassant's The Necklace. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. The Necklace: Introduction. A concise biography of Guy de Maupassant plus historical and literary context for The Necklace. The Necklace: Plot Summary.
The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is a smart short story which follows the life of a woman who faces the consequences of trying to impress a society which doesn’t care about her in the first place. This story masterfully depicts the consequences of trying to keep up with the Joneses.
