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The Necklace Summary, Characters and Themes

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The captivating world of Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace,” a timeless short story that explores the complexities of human desire, pride, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. First published in 1884, this narrative masterpiece remains a classic example of Maupassant’s keen understanding of human nature and his ability to craft poignant tales that resonate across generations.

“The Necklace” is set in 19th-century Paris and tells the story of Mathilde Loisel, a woman whose unquenchable desire for wealth and social acceptance leads her into a terrible chain of unfortunate events. We are encouraged to consider the ageless themes of image against truth, the fallout from pride, and the chase of material wealth as we delve into the details of this story.

The Necklace Summary

The narrative begins with an introduction to Mathilde Loisel, a charming and discontented young woman married to a clerk, Monsieur Loisel. Despite her husband’s modest income, Mathilde dreams of a life of luxury and social prominence. Her dissatisfaction with her middle-class status is exacerbated when Monsieur Loisel secures an invitation to a prestigious ball hosted by the Ministry of Education.

Mathilde’s excitement is quickly tempered by her realization that she lacks the appropriate attire for such an event. In desperation, she borrows an exquisite necklace from her friend Madame Forestier, believing that the borrowed jewelry will elevate her appearance and grant her access to the glamorous world she yearns for.

Mathilde is the picture of elegance and beauty at the event, mesmerizing the attendees and basking in the praise she gets. But when the couple gets home and realizes the borrowed necklace is missing, the evening takes a terrible turn. They choose to change the jewelry in a panic and not tell Madame Forestier.

To buy a new jewelry, the Loisels set out on a journey of financial difficulty. They borrow money, use up all of their resources, and endure ten long years of poverty in order to pay off the debt that the replacement necklace caused. Because of the stress, Monsieur Loisel aged too soon and Mathilde loses her attractiveness and charm.

In a twist of irony, Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier years later and confesses the truth about the lost necklace. To Mathilde’s surprise, Madame Forestier reveals that the original necklace was a mere imitation, worth only a fraction of the cost incurred for its replacement. The revelation shatters Mathilde’s illusions and exposes the futility of her decade-long sacrifice.

The story concludes with a reflection on the irony of fate and the consequences of Mathilde’s choices. Despite her relentless pursuit of wealth and social status, she finds herself worse off than before, realizing that the necklace she sacrificed so much for was, in fact, a symbol of her own undoing.

“The Necklace” is a powerful critique of societal expectations and the destructive nature of unbridled ambition. Mathilde Loisel’s relentless desire for material wealth and social recognition leads her down a path of deceit, financial ruin, and personal tragedy. The story exposes the illusion of appearances and the arbitrary nature of social hierarchies.

One of the central themes is the deceptive nature of appearances. Mathilde’s borrowed necklace becomes a symbol of the superficiality of social status. The necklace, initially perceived as a ticket to the upper echelons of society, turns out to be an imitation, highlighting the irony that the pursuit of material wealth is often based on illusion.

The narrative also explores the consequences of pride and vanity. Mathilde’s pride prevents her from appreciating the simple joys of her life and leads her to make decisions that result in her downfall. Her unwillingness to confess the loss of the necklace and her determination to replace it at any cost illustrate the destructive power of pride.

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Maupassant employs situational irony to drive home the story’s moral. The necklace, which Mathilde believed to be a valuable piece of jewelry, turns out to be of little worth. This irony underscores the theme that the pursuit of material wealth and societal validation is often misguided and can lead to unforeseen and tragic consequences.

“The Necklace” is a cautionary tale that resonates across time and cultures, urging readers to reflect on the true meaning of happiness and the consequences of placing excessive value on material possessions. Through the character of Mathilde Loisel, Maupassant offers a poignant commentary on the human condition, reminding us of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of appreciating life’s simple pleasures.

The Necklace Characters

• The central character of the story, Mathilde Loisel is a discontented and ambitious young woman. Unhappy with her modest middle-class life, she dreams of wealth and social prominence. Her desire for material possessions and a higher social standing leads her to make a series of choices that have far-reaching consequences. Mathilde’s character serves as a reflection of the pitfalls of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of appearances.
• Monsieur Loisel is Mathilde’s husband, a simple and contented clerk. While he is happy with their modest life, he loves his wife deeply and strives to make her happy. Monsieur Loisel’s character contrasts with Mathilde’s relentless desire for wealth and serves as a source of support and stability throughout the story.
• Madame Forestier is a friend of Mathilde and the owner of the necklace that becomes the focal point of the narrative. She lends Mathilde the necklace for the grand ball, unaware of the consequences that will unfold. Madame Forestier’s character is crucial to the story’s resolution, as her revelation about the necklace’s true value adds a layer of irony to Mathilde’s decade-long sacrifice.

The Necklace Themes

• A central theme in “The Necklace” is the exploration of unbridled ambition and desire. Mathilde Loisel’s insatiable yearning for wealth and social status drives the narrative, leading her to make choices that have far-reaching consequences. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of material possessions.
• Pride and vanity play a significant role in the story, particularly in Mathilde’s character. Her refusal to accept her middle-class status and her desire to present an appearance of wealth and elegance to society reveal the destructive nature of pride. The consequences of her refusal to confess the loss of the necklace and her determination to replace it at any cost highlight the pitfalls of unchecked vanity.
• The theme of deception and illusion is woven throughout the narrative. The borrowed necklace, initially perceived as a valuable piece of jewelry, turns out to be an imitation. This twist of fate underscores the illusory nature of social status and material wealth. The story suggests that appearances can be deceiving and that the pursuit of external validation may lead to unforeseen and tragic consequences.
• The narrative employs situational irony to convey its message. The necklace, which Mathilde believed to be a valuable and precious possession, turns out to be of little worth. This irony of fate serves as a powerful commentary on the arbitrary nature of life and the unpredictability of outcomes. The twist in the story emphasizes the theme that the pursuit of material wealth is often misguided and can lead to unexpected and tragic results.
• The theme of sacrifice is prominent in the story, particularly in the sacrifices made by Monsieur and Mathilde Loisel to replace the lost necklace. The decade-long struggle, marked by financial hardship and personal sacrifice, highlights the consequences of choices driven by pride and the pursuit of societal validation. The story suggests that the sacrifices made in the name of appearances may not always lead to the desired outcome.
• Implicit in the narrative is a reflection on the nature of true happiness and contentment. Mathilde’s relentless pursuit of wealth and status prevents her from appreciating the simple joys of her life. The story encourages readers to reflect on the value of contentment and the consequences of prioritizing external validation over internal satisfaction.

Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” is a classic literary work that explores human impulses, the fallout from unbridled ambition, and the false nature of social expectations. Readers are captivated into a story that transcends time as Mathilde Loisel’s journey develops, providing insightful commentary on pride, selflessness, and pursuing happiness.

The themes of ambition, pride, and the irony of fate resonate with readers, urging contemplation on the choices that shape our destinies. Mathilde’s decade-long sacrifice for an illusionary social status serves as a cautionary tale, inviting introspection into the value of contentment and the pitfalls of societal pressures.

“The Necklace” is a testament to Maupassant’s skill as a storyteller, employing symbolism and sarcasm to create a narrative that profoundly affects its readers. This short story challenges readers to think critically about society expectations, ponder the real sources of happiness, and weigh the effects of making decisions motivated by conceit.

As we come to the end of our trip through “The Necklace,” may its timeless lessons linger, encouraging us to face life’s challenges with humility, thankfulness, and the knowledge that genuine richness can be found in the little things in life.

What is the moral of “The Necklace”?

The moral of “The Necklace” centers around the consequences of unchecked ambition, pride, and the pursuit of societal validation. It suggests that true happiness may be found in contentment and that the relentless pursuit of material wealth and appearances can lead to unexpected and tragic outcomes.

Why is the necklace in the story significant?

The necklace in the story symbolizes the illusion of social status and the consequences of pride. Mathilde’s belief in the necklace’s value drives her choices, leading to a decade-long sacrifice. The necklace’s revelation as an imitation underscores the story’s theme that the pursuit of material possessions can be based on deception.

How does irony contribute to the story?

Irony is a crucial element in “The Necklace.” The borrowed necklace, believed to be valuable, turns out to be an imitation. This situational irony emphasizes the story’s message about the unpredictability of life and the arbitrary nature of societal expectations. The twist adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the disparity between appearance and reality.

What does the story say about societal expectations?

“The Necklace” critiques societal expectations, particularly the pressure to conform to perceived norms of wealth and status. Mathilde’s dissatisfaction with her middle-class life reflects the societal emphasis on appearances. The story encourages readers to question societal expectations and consider the true sources of fulfillment.

How does Mathilde’s character evolve throughout the story?

Mathilde’s character undergoes a transformation from discontent to tragic realization. Initially dissatisfied with her modest life, she becomes consumed by the desire for wealth and social status. The consequences of her choices, including a decade of sacrifice, lead to a profound change in her understanding of happiness and the true cost of vanity.

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A Summary and Analysis of Guy de Maupassant’s ‘The Necklace’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Necklace’ is an 1884 short story by the French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850-93), first published in Le Gaulois as ‘La parure’ in February of that year. If you’re unfamiliar with Maupassant’s work, ‘The Necklace’ is his most famous tale, and worth taking the time to read. If you’re a fan of stories with twist endings , you’ll probably love it.

Plot summary

Mathilde Loisel is a pretty woman who is married to a clerk who works in the Ministry of Education. They do not have much money, and Mathilde spends her days fantasising that her life is more glamorous and upmarket than it actually is.

When her husband is invited to a ball hosted by the minister for whom he works, he is keen for them both to attend, but Mathilde tells him she has nothing to wear to such a high-class social occasion. He tells her he will buy her a nice dress, even though it will mean sacrificing his own pleasure.

Then, Mathilde becomes worried that she has no jewels to wear with the dress. Loisel, her husband, suggests she ask her friend, Madame Forestier, if she has something she will lend to Mathilde for the night. Madame Forestier is happy for her friend to borrow whatever she wants, and Mathilde chooses a diamond necklace.

Mathilde enjoys the ball, and especially likes all of the attention she attracts from the men in attendance. When they are due to leave, at four in the morning, they go outside and try to find a cab to take them home. When they arrive home, however, Mathilde is horrified to discover she has lost the necklace!

Loisel retraces their steps but cannot find the lost necklace anywhere. They realise that they will have to replace the necklace, whatever the cost. To buy them some time, they compose a letter to Madame Forestier, claiming that they are having the necklace repaired. They then try to find out where the necklace was made, and have to buy the clasp and the diamonds from separate jewellers.

Loisel racks up thousands of francs in debt, borrowing from friends and from professional moneylenders to raise the cash. They finally have the necklace, which is returned to Madame Forestier, but now they have to pay back the money to all of their creditors.

This takes them ten long years. They dismiss their servant girl and Mathilde has to perform all of the housework, which ages her rapidly. Loisel, meanwhile, takes on a second job, working for a merchant in the evenings. Finally, though, their debts are cleared.

One day, Mathilde bumps into Madame Forestier, who doesn’t recognise her at first because her friend looks so poor and haggard. Now the debt is paid off, Mathilde feels she can tell her friend the truth, and confesses that she lost her friend’s necklace and she and her husband had to buy a replacement.

In a twist, Madame Forestier tells her friend that the necklace she lent Mathilde was made of imitation diamonds, and was virtually worthless. Mathilde and her husband had spent ten years toiling away for no reason.

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.

But ‘The Necklace’ is more specifically about the dangers of not being happy with what one has, and always wanting more. The nineteenth century saw a rise in the prevalance of consumerism, with many middle-class people seeking to improve their lot and keep up with their friends and neighbours in terms of their possessions, clothes, and social status.

Although Maupassant’s story is hardly searing social satire, the fate of the female protagonist does act as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing consumerist gratification in order to impress and be admired by others. The Loisels have a perfectly comfortable lower-middle-class life, and Mathilde has one servant to help around the house.

But this isn’t enough. She dreams of having more. Her food is not enough for her and she wants to dine on finer dishes. One would think she was living a life of poverty from how dissatisfied she is.

This constant desire for more is her undoing, of course – and her husband’s. Her insistence that she have some jewels to wear to the ball is what leads her to find out what real poverty is like, when she and her husband have to downsize from a modest flat to a small garret, and Mathilde has to learn how to work as a servant in her own house. She also loses the natural beauty she had as she has to work so hard at scrubbing the floors.

The critic Rachel Mesch, in her book Having It All in the Belle Epoque , has pointed out that ‘The Necklace’, among other stories, is a kind of Cinderella-story gone awry: whereas Cinderella begins by scrubbing floors and ends up going to the ball in all her finery, Mathilde goes to the ball and, as a result of losing her necklace (not her glass slipper), is reduced to a life of scrubbing floors.

Because she longed for more than she had, she ended up with less than she had to begin with. But the delicious ironic twist at the end of the story shows that her reduction to a life of poverty was all for nothing: just like the admiration she was foolishly and vainly chasing, the necklace she was working to replace was, after all, a sham.

Modern consumerism, then, is a con, with anyone able to afford a cheap imitation necklace able to pass themselves off as a member of the upper classes. Maupassant seems to be suggesting that the ‘finer things’ in life which tempt us are often, at their core, hollow and worthless.

At the same time, however, even when she is reduced to a life of grinding poverty, Mathilde still remembers that one night at the ball when she was admired. It is almost as if she thinks it was worth it, despite what happened next. She wonders what would have happened if she’d never lost the necklace.

Of course, at this stage of the narrative she hasn’t learned that the diamonds she was wearing that night were fakes; perhaps that revelation would make her revise her opinion. And yet, knowing they were imitation diamonds raises further ‘what if’ questions.

If they cost five hundred francs at the most, as Madame Forestier reveals at the end, Loisel’s husband could have easily bought her a cheap necklace and nobody – except for the Loisels themselves – would have been any the wiser. After all, Mathilde was admired at the ball even though she was, it turns out, wearing fake diamonds.

‘The Necklace’ is narrated in the third person by an omniscient narrator. The style is broadly realist, with Maupassant’s narrative voice relating the main details of the story in crisp, concise prose. We don’t get – as we would in the work of later modernist writers – detailed insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, although we are given occasional details about Mathilde’s feelings towards her situation.

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The Necklace Plot Analysis

Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice., initial situation, miserable mathilde.

At the beginning of the story, essentially nothing happens. The narrator's interested in telling us about Mathilde (even though we don't yet know her name). We learn about her back-story, her character, and her unhappiness with her mediocre life. This represents a classic initial situation.

It's a party and I'll cry if I want to…

The action proper begins when M. Loisel (Mathilde's husband) comes home with the invitation to the fabulous ball and Mathilde reacts by having a fit. Now we have a specific problem: Mathilde's now has the best opportunity she's ever had to have a taste of the high life, but she has nothing to wear. That problem sets the rest of the plot in motion.

Complication

Diamonds are this girl's best friend.

Mathilde solves the first problem when her husband gives her money for a dress. But then she runs into a second problem: she's needs to have some jewels. Luckily, her friend Mme. Forestier is able to provide her with a fabulous diamond necklace. But now Mathilde's been entrusted with something expensive that belongs to someone else and we have the potential for disaster. It's true that the complication is often when things "get worse," and that doesn't really happen here (for that, we have to wait for the climax). In fact, after borrowing the necklace, Mathilde has the time of her life. But it's when she borrows the necklace that the possibility opens up for something really bad to happen…and it does.

The necklace is missing!

Mathilde's discovery is the most exciting and dramatic moment in the story (until that crazy twist in the last line). It's also the turning point in the plot. Before, the story was a build-up to Mathilde's one glorious night with the rich and famous. Now it transitions into a desperate search. We have a feeling things are not going to end well.

Diamonds, when lost, are a girl's worst nightmare

After the loss of the necklace, we're kept in constant suspense. First, there's the search for the necklace: will it be found? When it becomes clear it isn't going to be, the question becomes: what will the Loisels do? Will they find a replacement? And when they do, the question is: how the are they going to pay for it? It turns out paying for it takes quite a toll on them – their lives are ruined for ten years.

A fateful stroll down the Champs Elysées

When Mathilde meets Mme. Forestier on the Champs Elysées, it looks like we're just about to tie up the last loose end in the story. The main action is over – the Loisels have finally finished paying off their debts for the necklace. All that remains is for Mathilde to see whether her friend ever noticed the substitute necklace, and tell her the sad story of the whole affair. But then things don't quite wrap up the way we expect.

Come on baby, let's do the twist…

Sometimes critics say that the twist ending is the climax of the story. You could think that the twist is the most exciting moment of the story, and represents a turning point since it reverses everything that came before. But we're sticking to our guns, and saying that the twist ending isn't the climax, but the conclusion. A climax is technically the point of the plot that everything builds up to, and that's not true of the twist. What makes the twist so effective is that by the time it happens the plot has already "risen and fallen," and seems to be wrapping up naturally. Then, right in the denouement, everything changes. Unlike your run-of-the-mill conclusion, this conclusion is exciting, and it upsets everything.

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W hy's T his F unny?

'The Necklace' Study Guide

Guy de Maupassant's short story features themes of pride and deception

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"The Necklace" is a short story by 19th-century French author Guy de Maupassant , who is regarded as one of the early masters of the short story. It's often studied in English and world literature classes. Maupassant is known for writing about the travails of average people in French society and their efforts to get ahead, often with unhappy results. Read on for a summary and analysis of " The Necklace ."

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 items that she wants, which makes her unhappy.

Monsieur Loisel, Mathilde's husband, is a man of simple pleasures who is happy with his life. He loves Mathilde and tries to mitigate her unhappiness by getting her an invitation to a fancy party. Madame Forestier is Mathilde's friend. She is wealthy, which makes Mathilde very jealous.

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 Monsieur Loisel into offering to pay for a new dress despite their money being tight. Mathilde asks for 400 francs. Monsieur Loisel had planned to use the money he had saved on a gun for hunting but agrees to give the money to his wife. Near the date of the party, Mathilde decides to borrow jewelry from Madame Forestier. She picks a diamond necklace from her friend's jewelry box. 

Mathilde is the belle of the ball. When the night ends and the couple returns home, Mathilde is saddened by the humble state of her life compared with the fairy-tale party. This emotion quickly turns into panic as she realizes she has lost the necklace Madame Forestier lent her.

The Loisels search unsuccessfully for the necklace and ultimately decide to replace it without telling Madame Forestier that Mathilde lost the original. They find a similar necklace, but to afford it they go deeply into debt. For the next 10 years, the Loisels live in poverty. Monsieur Loisel works three jobs and Mathilde does heavy housework until their debts are repaid. But Mathilde's beauty has faded from a decade of hardship.

One day, Mathilde and Madame Forestier meet on the street. At first, Madame Forestier doesn't recognize Mathilde and is shocked when she realizes it is her. Mathilde explains to Madame Forestier that she lost the necklace, replaced it, and worked for 10 years to pay for the substitute. The story ends with Madame Forestier sadly telling Mathilde that the necklace she had lent her was fake and worth almost nothing.

Given its central role in the short story , the necklace is an important symbol of 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 and the aristocratic class indulge. While Madame Forestier knew the jewels were fake, she did not tell Mathilde because she enjoyed the illusion of appearing wealthy and generous in lending a seemingly expensive item. People often admire the wealthy, aristocratic class, but sometimes their wealth is an illusion.

The short story's theme involves 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 acknowledging initially that the necklace was a fake, which would have prevented Mathilde's downfall.

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Literary Analysis of The Necklace: Essay Example

The necklace: introduction of the essay, the necklace by guy de maupassant: characterization, the necklace essay: conflict and narration, the necklace by guy de maupassant: setting and atmosphere, the necklace essay: tone, language, and major theme, the necklace essay: critical perspective, the necklace: conclusion of the essay.

The Necklace (La Parure) is one of the most famous short stories by Guy De Maupassant. It tells a story about a middle-class French couple in the 19th century. The wife is longing for a luxurious life, unappreciative of her husband, and a relatively happy life the couple is leading. Madame Loisel spends her time dreaming about all the luxuries they cannot afford to purchase while experiencing a feeling of shame for their actual life. The events described in the story reveal the features of the character of the heroine, which eventually leads her to live a life far poorer than she used to lead. An unexpected and ironic outcome provides a complex moral lesson that the readers are supposed to learn along with Madame Loisel. In the end, she learns that her image of high society was not real; the lack of appreciation for her moderate but sufficient fortune led to a disastrous outcome, and her husband’s efforts to provide for her went undeservingly unnoticed. The deceptiveness of appearances is the major theme of the story.

The main heroine, Madame Loisel, comes from a family of clerks. With no dowry and no hopes of being married to a wealthy man, she becomes the wife of a clerk from the Ministry of Education. Mathilde does not enjoy her life, as it is far too modest. She believes she was born to lead a lavish lifestyle and spends her time imagining the rich and luxurious surroundings she deserves (Maupassant 789). The emotions she experiences because of her poor lifestyle are rather strong, as she regards it as a misfortune and even an insult. Mathilde does not appreciate her husband’s efforts to provide for her at all costs. Upon receiving an invitation to a high society soirée, she is miserable due to the lack of clothing and jewelry worthy of a well-off and distinguished person.

Monsieur Loisel is a generous and loving husband. To please his wife, he denies himself the pleasure of buying a gun, giving up the money for Mathilde’s gown for the ball. Monsieur Loisel is attentive to his wife’s changing moods and gives her valuable advice on how to get the jewelry they cannot afford. During the soirée, he does not attempt to tarnish his wife’s delight at being appreciated and admired and sleeps in a waiting room until four o’clock in the morning, even though he must be at work four hours later. Monsieur Loisel displays the qualities of a loving and attentive husband, striving to please his wife. Madame Loisel, however, does not appreciate his attention, as she regards him as an unimportant figure in society, unable to afford to lead a luxurious lifestyle.

There is a third-person narration in the story, with an omniscient point of view, providing us with the innermost thoughts and feelings of the main characters. The conflict described by Maupassant in this short story revolves around Mathilde and the lost necklace. Striving to fit in with the members of high society, Madame Loisel is willing to borrow a diamond necklace from a friend, which she loses after the soirée. Due to her pride, she is unable to tell the truth. She is ashamed that they cannot afford to replace such expensive jewelry. Therefore, the conflict of the story is tied to the lost necklace and the couple’s desperate struggles to repay the debt, which leads them, in the end, to life in poverty, a complete opposite of what Mathilde has always wanted.

The Necklace is set in 19th-century Paris, the Belle Époque. It includes descriptions of middle-class interiors, as well as of high society’s lavish lifestyle. Material things are described through Mathilde’s daydreaming about the luxurious life she was meant to lead. Her actual surroundings are described as ugly and poor, making her suffer greatly. The atmosphere of the story could be seen as dynamic since it changes as the plot evolves. Before losing the necklace, the atmosphere seems rather light and ironic. The reader follows Mathilde’s “sorrows” with a hint of a smile, perceiving her capriciousness and the lack of appreciation for her husband’s affection as typical qualities in a vain young wife. However, after the necklace is lost, there is a substantial shift in the atmosphere. Superficial vanity gives way to the pride that drives the couple to the brink of poverty. The light atmosphere of the first part is followed by the gloomy atmosphere of the last part, with an ironic twist at the end, meant to stress the moral lesson.

The tone is the attitude the author conveys by presenting the events and characters in a certain way. Some aspects of linguistic features indicate the author’s ironic attitude towards the main heroine. For instance, his use of the words “suffer,” “insult,” “torment,” “despair,” and “misery” shows Mathilde’s vainness and her inability to appreciate her life. The husband’s rhetorical question at dinner, “What could be better?” contrasts with her dreams about a luxurious lifestyle. The second part of the story, where the couple is forced to work hard to pay off their debt, indicates the pride of the main heroine: “She played her part heroically” (Maupassant 793).

Aside from irony, Maupassant uses symbolism as a way to convey the central theme of the story. The necklace symbolizes the high society Mathilde is so eager to join. However, as the necklace turns out to be a mere imitation, it symbolizes the superficial nature of the upper class’ appeal. The fake necklace symbolizes the illusion that Madame Loisel is captivated by, eventually leading to a disastrous outcome. Thus, the story’s major theme lies in the idea that notions such as beauty, wealth, poorness, and happiness depend on an individual’s perception. The appearances of upper-class lifestyles were deceptive, just like Mathilde’s appearance at the soirée, where she was such a success. However, neither the necklace nor Mathilde’s seemingly luxurious appearance was genuine. This leads us to believe that Maupassant wanted to stress the importance of the illusory nature of appearances, in which the 19th-century French bourgeoisie was so immersed.

From a sociological/Marxist criticism standpoint, Madame Loisel is a member of the middle class, an aspiring member of the upper class, and, ultimately, a lower-class member. The inability to accept her position in society and a constant yearning for a wealthier life lead the couple to find themselves at the bottom of the social structure. The amount of expensive material possessions indicates the class the people belong to, as well as their social status. Mathilde is deceived by the superficial signs of wealth, leading to her becoming a servant class member.

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant tells the story of a woman preoccupied with her desire to be wealthy and to belong to the upper class. The ironic twist at the end of the story renders her perception inconsistent with reality. As the plot unravels, the deceptiveness of appearances turns out to be the main reason for the disastrous outcome. 

Maupassant, Guy De. “The Necklace.” Short Fiction. Classic and Contemporary. Ed. Charles Bohner and Lyman Grant. Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006. 789-795. Print.

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Guy de Maupassant: “The Necklace” Essay

The necklace: introduction, deceptiveness of appearance, the necklace: conclusion, works cited.

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.

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.

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.

Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace” France: Word Press, 1881. P. 38-44.

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The Necklace

Guy de maupassant, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Reality and Illusion

In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant demonstrates that appearances—especially the appearance of wealth—are often at odds with reality. Attempting to appear richer than she truly is, Mathilde Loisel borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Jeanne Forestier and then loses it at a ball. She and her husband buy an expensive replacement on credit, return the replacement to the friend as though it’s the original, and then live ten years in poverty to repay their…

Women and Beauty

At the beginning of “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant writes that for women, “their beauty, their grace, and their charm serve them in lieu of birth and family background” and that “Their native finesse, their instinct for elegance, their versatile minds are their sole hierarchy, making shopgirls the equals of the grandest ladies.” His implication is that a woman’s beauty and poise can offer her upward social mobility. While Maupassant presents this as being the…

Ambition, Greed, and Material Possessions

“The Necklace” is, at its heart, a story about Mathilde ’s social ambition, which takes the form of a desire to acquire luxurious objects that she cannot afford. Through her ruin, Maupassant warns against the dangers of greed and criticizes those who ascribe too much value to wealth and material possessions.

Mathilde invests objects like the diamond necklace she borrows from Mme. Forestier with enormous significance, and her happiness is heavily dependent on her possession…

Sacrifice, Suffering, and Martyrdom

In the final section of “The Necklace,” Mathilde and her husband suffer for a decade as they struggle to pay back their enormous debt from the loss of the necklace . This suffering, combined with the fact that the Loisels live on “rue des Martyrs,” suggests that Maupassant wants readers to see Mathilde and her husband both as martyrs, albeit martyrs of different sorts.

Mathilde is a martyr for a cause: her desire for symbols…

In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant demonstrates the importance of knowing how to achieve happiness in a meaningful and lasting way. At the beginning of the story, Mathilde and her husband live a modest life, but with enough money to live comfortably. However, Mathilde is perpetually discontented, unable to be happy without the clothes and jewels of a wealthy woman. Although Mathilde achieves a fleeting moment of happiness during the party, the next ten years…

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Necklace — The Necklace: A Critical Analysis

The Necklace: a Critical Analysis

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Words: 781 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 781 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, plot summary, character analysis, theme analysis.

• References:
• De Maupassant, G. (1884). The Necklace. Retrieved from https://www.vobal.com/#/documents/history_of_literturereadersgu/the_necklace
• Rose, N. (2020). Materialism is a Destructive force. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-to-want-what-you-have/202010/materialism-is-destructive-force

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• The Necklace

The Necklace Summary & Notes - CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet

Summary of the necklace.

Chapter 7 of the Class 10 English Supplementary Reader ‘Footprints Without Feet’ consists of a prose piece titled The Necklace. It is a fictional story of Matilda Loisel and her husband that teaches us that we should be satisfied and content with whatever we have. This story stresses the fact that we should not crave extravagant luxuries that are beyond our affordability. Here, we present you the prose summary of CBSE English Notes Class 10 in a simple format. CBSE Class 10 students can check the prose summary of The Necklace here.

Students can also practice  CBSE Essays  on various topics to improve their writing section for the English exam.

CBSE Class 10 English The Necklace Summary

The Necklace was written by Guy de Maupassant. He was a famous 19th-century author popularly remembered for his short stories based on real-life situations. This fictional short story is about a pretty lady, Matilda Loisel, who lives in a small yet cosy flat with her husband. He worked as a clerk in the office of the Board of Education and loved his wife very much. They were not so well-off to be able to have a luxurious lifestyle. They led a simple life. Matilda was unhappy about her condition and always desired to be rich. She often felt disappointed and brooded about her financial condition for not having a huge mansion to live in and riches to splurge on. She always desired to wear beautiful dresses with matching jewellery, but she had none of it.

One fine day, Mme Loisel’s husband brought her an invitation to a grand ball party at the Minister’s residence. He expected his wife to be excited upon seeing the invitation letter. On the contrary, when his wife saw the invite, she expressed her resentment over it and threw the letter aside and started sobbing over her condition. When asked, she complained about not having a pretty dress to wear on such a grand occasion. She wanted to look beautiful and well-groomed at the party such that everyone should admire her. Feeling pity for Matilda, her loving husband gave her all his savings of four hundred francs to buy a beautiful dress. He had saved that amount to buy a rifle for himself but gave the money to his wife to buy her dress.

Soon, the week of the grand party approached. Matilda seemed to be anxious again. This time she felt that she didn’t have any matching jewellery to pair with her lovely dress. To this, her husband suggested she request her friend, Mme Jeanne Forestier, for a neckpiece. Matilda went to Jeanne’s house immediately and borrowed a sparkling diamond necklace.

Mme Loisel went to the ball party with her husband and was happy about her appearance. She was elated that she was successful in garnering the attention of the attendees at the reception. They enjoyed a gala time at the party. Soon, they were ready to head back home in the wee hours of the morning. When they reached home, Matilda realised that the necklace was missing around her neck. She and her husband were panic-stricken that it might have fallen in the cab which they had boarded while returning from the party. Her husband immediately went to search the streets just in case it might have fallen there but to no avail.

Soon after, he approached the police and put up an advertisement in the newspapers offering a reward, but all went in vain. With no option left, Matilda’s husband asked her to write a letter to Mme Forestier and mention that the clasp had broken and she would return it once repaired. In the meantime, they had successfully found a replica of the necklace and decided to replace it with the old one. However, the new necklace was very expensive and cost thirty-six thousand francs. Matilda’s father-in-law had left eighteen thousand francs for his son. They decided to borrow the rest of the money to buy the expensive necklace. They bought the necklace with all the money they had and borrowed funds.

In the next few years, their condition worsened as their lives took a drastic turn due to the huge loan. They moved to a smaller place to live in, and Matilda did all the household chores by herself. Her husband worked odd hours in multiple jobs to repay the loan. Ten years passed, and with that, their appearances also changed due to the extreme workload. One day, Matilda met Mme Jeanne Forestier, who couldn’t identify her as she looked weary and aged. Mme Loisel revealed the truth to her friend about how she and her husband were left in ruins to repay the loan of the expensive necklace. Hearing this, Mme Forestier was stunned and told her that the necklace that she gave her for the ball party was a fake necklace that was worth not more than five hundred francs.

Conclusion of The Necklace

The Necklace focuses that one should be content and satisfied with their belongings and not crave expensive items that are not within their economic capabilities. Extreme desire for lavish items leads to unhappiness and loss of peace of mind. We are hoping that this CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Prose Summary of The Necklace has helped students to have a deep insight into the chapter and understand the purpose of the lesson.

Moreover, you can also check BYJU’S for an array of resources on CBSE Notes and CBSE study material and access question papers of several years, sample papers, etc., while preparing for your Board exams preparation. Meanwhile, you can download BYJU’S – The Learning App for more informational content.

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 English The Necklace

Who is the author of ‘the necklace’.

‘The Necklace’ was written by Guy de Maupassant.

What does ‘economic capabilities’ mean?

Economic capability refers to the set of valuable functionings that a person has effective access to finance with respect to the environment/economy.

What are ‘Francs’?

The unit of money that is used in France, Belgium, Switzerland and several other countries is known as ‘Francs’.

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‘Are you a Zionist?’ Checkpoints at UCLA encampment provoked fear, debate among Jews

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Eilon Presman was about 100 feet from the UCLA Palestinian solidarity encampment when he heard the screams: “Zionist! Zionist!”

The 20-year-old junior, who is Israeli, realized the activists were pointing at him.

“Human chain!” they cried.

A line of protesters linked arms and marched toward him, Presman said, blocking him from accessing the heart of UCLA’s campus. Other activists, he said, unfurled kaffiyeh scarves to block his view of the camp.

“Every step back that I took, they took a step forward,” Presman said. “I was just forced to walk away.”

It’s been a week since police swarmed the UCLA campus and tore down the pro-Palestinian camp, arresting more than 200 people. But the legacy of the encampment remains an issue of much debate, particularly among Jewish students, who make up nearly 8% of the university’s 32,000 undergraduates.

In the days leading up to April 30 — when pro-Israel counterprotesters attacked the camp with fists, bats and chemical spray, and police took hours to stop the violence — frustration had swelled among many Jews: Viral videos showed activists restricting the passage of students they targeted as Zionists.

Some Jewish students said they felt intimidated as protesters scrawled graffiti — “Death 2 Zionism” and “Baby Killers” — on campus buildings and blocked access with wooden pallets, plywood, metal barricades and human walls.

The pro-Palestinian student movement includes various strains of activism, including calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, support for Hamas and demands that universities divest from firms doing business with Israel. But on campuses across the country, no word has become more charged than “Zionist.”

In its most basic definition, a Zionist is somebody who believes that the Jewish people have a right to statehood in their ancestral homeland as a place of refuge from centuries of persecution — in other words, that Israel, established as a Jewish state in the wake of the Holocaust, has a right to exist.

Using that definition, the Anti-Defamation League considers anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism. But protesters — including many Jews — draw a sharp distinction, arguing that it is Zionism that led to a massive displacement of Palestinians seven decades ago and today fuels Israel’s right-wing government and the assault on Gaza that they say amounts to genocide.

Some of the Jewish students who took part in the encampment played a role in excluding Zionists.

Members of Jewish Voice for Peace at UCLA, a small but rapidly growing group on campus, argue they had a moral responsibility to pressure university officials to divest from Israel.

The camp and its checkpoints, they said, were not hostile to Jews. Restricting fellow students from entering was just a pragmatic move to protect protesters inside from physical, verbal or emotional abuse.

“We are committed to keeping each other safe,” said Agnes Lin, 22, a fourth-year art and art history student and member of Jewish Voice for Peace. Anyone who agreed to the UC Divest Coalition’s demands and community guidelines, she said, was welcome.

“What is not welcome is Zionism,” she added. “Or anyone who actively adheres to a very violent, genocidal political ideology that is actively endangering people in Gaza right now.”

In practice, students who supported the existence of Israel were kept out — even if they opposed Israel’s right-wing government and its bombardment of Gaza.

Senior Adam Thaw, 21, said activists blocked him and others from accessing a public walkway to Powell Library.

After telling him they were not letting anyone through, a male activist eyed his Star of David necklace: “If you’re here to espouse that this is antisemitism, then you can leave.”

“Who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go?” said Thaw, who is on UCLA’s student board of Hillel, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world.

As complaints from Jewish students mounted, UCLA declared the encampment “unlawful.” In an April 30 statement, Chancellor Gene Block said most activists had been peaceful, but the tactics of some were “shocking and shameful.”

“Students on their way to class,” he said, “have been physically blocked from accessing parts of the campus.”

The campus was dark and hushed when Sabrina Ellis joined dozens of activists at 4 a.m. to set up the encampment on the lawn of Dickson Court.

After pitching tents and erecting barricades of wooden pallets and sheets of plywood, Ellis, a 21-year-old international student from Brazil, took shifts guarding the entrance.

Ellis didn’t call it a checkpoint. The goal was to exclude and physically block “agitators” — anyone who might be violent, record students or disagree with the cause.

“Our top priority isn’t people’s freedom of movement,” Ellis said. “It is keeping people in our encampments physically and emotionally safe.”

The longtime member of Jewish Voice for Peace — who wore a large Star of David over her T-shirt and a kaffiyeh wrapped around her shoulders — said the camp “was not profiling based on religion.”

But as activists blocked Zionist students from public campus space, they faced charges that they engaged in viewpoint discrimination.

Before allowing anyone in, Ellis said, a protester read the demands of the encampment, which included calling for the University of California and UCLA to divest all funds from companies “complicit in the Israeli occupation,” boycott all connections with Israeli universities, sever ties with the Los Angeles Police Department and demand a permanent cease-fire.

Then, activists ran through their safety guidelines : Ask before taking a photo or video; wear a mask to limit the spread of COVID; do not post identifying information or photos; and no engagement with counterprotesters.

If students didn’t agree, “we would just kindly tell them that they’re not allowed to come in,” Ellis said.

Some Jewish students were shaken by the experience, arriving at Hillel upset and even crying.

“They were genuinely going about their day and couldn’t get access as protesters asked them, ‘Are you a Zionist?’ or looked at their necklace,” said Daniel Gold, executive director of Hillel at UCLA.

For pro-Palestinian activists who are Jewish, the camp was a peaceful space to promote justice, a welcoming interfaith community with therapist-led processing circles and candlelit prayer services.

Blue tarps and blankets were put down in the middle of the lawn for Islamic prayers and a Passover Seder and a Shabbat service.

On the first evening, about 100 activists, many Jewish, sat in a circle to pray, sing, drink grape juice and eat matzo ball soup, matzo crackers and watermelon.

“It was really beautiful,” said Lin, the art student. “We were trying to hold these spaces to show that Judaism goes beyond Zionism.”

Other Jewish students were more wary as they navigated the camp.

Presman, who moved to the U.S. when he was 12 and identifies as a Zionist, was alarmed when he scanned the quad on the first day. He saw signs saying “Israelis are native 2 HELL,” he said, and banners and graffiti showing inverted red triangles, a symbol used in Hamas propaganda videos to indicate a military target.

“Do people know what that means?” he wondered.

Tucking his Star of David under his T-shirt, Presman said, he entered and approached activists, introducing himself as an Israeli citizen.

“Maybe we can find common ground,” he said, “one human being to the other?”

Some students put their hands up, he said, blocking him as they walked away. Others treated the conversation as a joke. One protester, he said, told him that everything Hamas did was justified.

Presman said he had one good conversation: An activist who identified as anti-Zionist admitted not being 100% educated on what Zionism was, but agreed that Israel should exist. They came to the conclusion the activist was a Zionist.

But most of Presman’s exchanges, he said, ended negatively when activists realized he was defending Zionism. He said he was called a “dirty Jew” and “white colonizer.”

Other students — even those who did not fully support the encampment — said they did not experience such slurs.

Rachel Burnett, a senior who described herself as a non-Zionist Jew, disagreed with the call for divestment and academic boycotts, especially of UCLA’s Nazarian Center, an educational center for the study of Israeli history, politics and culture.

Entering the camp after a classmate vouched for her, Burnett was disturbed by anti-Israeli signs and graffiti that named Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas. But she also bonded with protesters, including a woman in a hijab.

“Of course, some protesters deny Oct. 7 or condone violence as long as it can be put under the guise of decolonial resistance, which is obviously horrific,” Burnett said. “But that’s not the case of many students inside the encampment.”

Burnett contrasted what she saw as a peaceful, friendly mood inside the camp with the pro-Israel counterprotests where people held up benign slogans, such as “Bring the Hostages Home,” but engaged in hostile behavior.

As counterprotesters converged for a Sunday rally, she said, a pro-Israel activist spat on her and told her she should have been slaughtered in the kibbutzim on Oct. 7.

Just as some pro-Palestinian activists demonized all Zionists as evil and pro-genocide — ignoring the wide range of viewpoints within the Zionist community — Burnett thought some pro-Israel counterprotesters were dehumanizing student activists in the encampment and spreading a “mass hysteria narrative.”

As the encampment expanded — and organizers set up entrance points near Royce Hall and Powell Library — some Jewish students took videos that swiftly went viral.

“It’s time to go,” a protester wearing a yellow safety vest and kaffiyeh told a student in one video as he guarded an entrance near Powell Library. “You don’t have a wristband.”

A standoff ensued.

“Are you a Zionist?” the protester asked.

“Of course I’m Zionist,” the student replied.

“Yeah, we don’t let Zionists inside.”

More to Read

Jewish voices struggle to find words of reconciliation in face of campus violence

May 11, 2024

Encampments spread across California universities. Are they living on borrowed time?

May 6, 2024

Ali: Mocking Gaza protesters as ‘gluten-free warriors’ was fun — until a mob at UCLA attacked them

May 3, 2024

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Jenny Jarvie is a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Atlanta.

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