The Necklace

Kara Littlefield

English Literature

102- Augusta

02/03/16

GREED

The Necklace a short story by Guy Maupassant is about middle class women that is pretty and feels that she does not have everything in life that she deserves as Maupassant states “she let herself be married to a clerk”. The women felt as if she should have been born to “for all the delicacies and the luxuries.” The women is miserable -Mathilde is her name, she is neither “cast nor rank “and she suffers “ceaselessly and is tortures by her misfortune”. The author tells you how Mathilde daydreams for endless hours about fantasy riches and a life that she doesn’t have. One thesis to the story is that greed can lead to disappointment and unhappiness.

Maupassant makes you feel bad for her until Loisel , her husband, brought an invitation home to the palace of the Ministry for a ball. Instead of being delighted Mathilde is displeased because she has nothing to wear and no jewels. Maupassant shows the reader how committed her husband is “come see Mathilde how much would it cost a suitable dress which you could use on other occasions.” Now Mathilde is not pleased she has no jewels to wear to the ball stating to her husband “there is nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich.” Mathilde borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend Mme Forestier and attends the ball. At the ball she is the prettier than them all and she dances all night with a “sort of cloud of happiness.” Leaving the ball she realizes that she has lost the necklace she and her husband have searched everywhere no necklace…

Maupassant keeps you in suspense wondering if it will be found or they can find a duplicate to replace it. Finding a jeweler that could replace it for thirty-six thousand francs. Mathilde and Mme Loisel find themselves giving up all their savings and working for the rest of their lives to pay it back.

Mathilde runs into her friend...