THE NECKLACE
By GUY DE MAUPASSANT
Theme of the Story
The story of ‘The Necklace’ is a satire that gives a strong
message on human values. The very first thing that this
lesson teaches us is that everyone should be content in life
with whatever little that one has. One should live within
one’s means or else he invites unnecessary problems,
anxieties, and confusion in life. The most important
message of the story is that we should be what we are.
Character Sketch
Mathilde Loisel:
The protagonist of the story. Mathilde has been blessed with
physical beauty but not with the affluent lifestyle she yearns
for, and she feels deeply discontented with her lot in life. She
dreams of a life of glamour and wealth. She feels trapped in a
middle-class life and longs to for the life of riches that she
believes she deserves.
Monsieur Loisel:
In contrast to Mathilde’s selfishness and greed, her husband
demonstrates generosity and sacrifice. He is upset with his
wife’s dissatisfaction and works hard to secure tickets to the
Ministry of Education ball to make her happy. When Mathilde
loses the necklace, Monsieur Loisel undergoes ten years of
hard work and poverty in order to purchase a replacement.
Madame Forestier: Madame Forestier is the wealthy friend of
the Loisels who lends Mathilde the diamond necklace for the
ball. She is generous to Mathilde.
Questions and Answers
[Link] was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have
avoided it?
Matilda’s aspiration and unrealistic dreams were the cause of
her ruin. She paid due importance to materialistic things. She
could have easily avoided if she had remained within her
means. She was not a practical lady and had not understood
her husband’s feelings.
2.A little confession would have changed the life of Matilda.
Should we confess our mistakes courageously? Do you agree
about above statement.
Answer:
Yes, a small mistake makes our life miserable and dark.
People who are open-minded and speak the truth stay much
happier. A little mistake made by Matilda changed her life
completely. If Matilda had confessed that she had lost
Madam Forestier’s necklace, her life would have been
different. Confession could have brought peace of mind.
Matilda would have at once come to know that necklace is
not a real but it is an imitation. Hard work which Matilda put
into repay the borrowed necklace could have been saved. We
all get a very important message that we should not delay in
admitting our mistake.
3. Love is blind’ is a phrase that was justified by Monsieur
Loisel in the lesson ‘The Necklace’. Substantiate the answer
from the story you have read in about 100 – 120 words.
Monsieur Loisel’s acceptance and contentment differ
considerably from Matilda’s emotional outbursts and
constant dissatisfaction, and though he never fully
understands his wife, he does his best to please her. When
Monsieur Loisel tries to appease Matilda, he does it so
blindly, wanting only to make her happy. When she declares
that she cannot attend the party because she has nothing to
wear, he gives her money to purchase a dress. When she
complains that she has no proper jewellery, he urges her to
visit Madame Forestier to borrow some.
[Link] Necklace’ reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring joy
for short period but ultimately it leads to ruin. If you are
placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, what would
you have done? Express your views.
No doubt, Matilda was proud and self-loving. She was very
beautiful and charming and she was proud of her beauty.
Because of her beauty, she thought that she was born in a
family of clerks through the error of destiny. She felt that she
was born for all delicacies and luxuries. She also felt that she
was made for expensive frocks, jewels and other such things.
Therefore, we can conclude that Matilda was very vain and
proud because of her beauty. When we read the story, we
find out that she suffered because of her vanity. If I were
placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, I would have
valued the love of my husband. I would have not insisted on
buying an expensive dress to wear to the party. There would
be no question of borrowing an expensive necklace from my
friend. I would have saved me and my husband from all
hardships which the Loisels went through.
[Link] changes came in the lifestyle of Matilda after she had
lost the necklace?
To return the borrowed money Mr and Mrs Loisel suffered
for ten long years. First, they sent away the maid servant.
Then they changed their lodging and rented some rooms.
Now Matilda learnt heavy cares of household life, she had to
do the difficult chores of her kitchen. She had to wash dishes,
greasy pots and stew pans. She had to use her rosy nails to
wash the greasy pots and the bottoms of the stew pans.
She had to wash dirty clothes and to hang them on the line to
dry. Then each morning she had to take down the refuse to
the street. She also had to bring up the water for daily use.
She had to stop at each landing to catch her breath. She did
not have much money so she haggled with the shopkeepers
to get reduction in prices.
Once she was very beautiful and used to wear beautiful
dresses. Now she seemed old. Now she looked like a common
household woman. She had badly dressed hair and dirty
dresses. Her hands were red and she spoke in a loud tone.
She washed the floors with large pailg of water.
[Link] should be content with what life gives us.
Yes, we should be content with what life gives us. It is never
ending desire which forces us to follow wrong path.
Sometimes a person becomes dishonest to get more in life.
The desire to have more makes a person unhappy. Matilda
was a victim of such situation. Had she been content with
what she had, she would not have ruined her life.
[Link] inability to accept our circumstances may lead to an
unhappy life. Explain with reference to the story “The
Necklace”.
