Sharina Karyl Butanlog
Jamaica Via Juaton
Annalyn Baylosis
[Link] is your interpretation of the story The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant?
- We cannot have it all at once, and it’s okay, it should be okay”. There’s so much great
life offers when one acknowledge what one lacks and appreciate what one already
have.
- Seeking too much validation and attention will destroy us. Mathilde wants to be
recognized and admired by everyone around her, and that eventually caused her
misfortunes. Mathilde's story shows that if we spend all your time trying to impress
others, we might lose everything that truly matters.
- My interpretation of this story is that excessive ambition without action can lead to
negative consequences. If we want to achieve something in life or change the way we
live, we must work hard to fulfill it. We should be grateful for what we have, be honest,
and accept failure to minimize regrets. However, this can only be done if we first learn to
accept, love, and cherish ourselves.
2. What part of the story can you relate to your life?
- In a common scenario where readers usually relate themselves to Mathilde Loisel, I
personally can relate a phase of my life to Mathilde's husband that does nothing but to
try what he can do to and willing to do to someone he truly loves.
- I was once like Mathilde Loisel, seeking validation from others. I wanted to be noticed,
I wanted to be appreciated and I want to be accepted to the point that I became people
pleaser for them to only want me, but seeking too much validation only hurt me. If I am
not valued and appreciated even how much I tried my best, it hurts my ego. I’ve realized
that I don’t need to change my personality for me to be noticed by everyone because
my not so good characteristics would not matter to those person that appreciated me
whole heartedly and those who accepted me for who I am and what I have.
- There was a time when I wanted to join a Jamboree because our teacher said that
participating would earn us extra points and could help us become honour students.
Without considering the cost, I pressured my father to let me join. However, when I
arrived at the event, I immediately felt regret because I had nothing to rely on. My only
reason for joining was to show my classmates that we could afford it, but in the end, I
regretted it because my friends weren’t there.
3. Take note of the elements present in the piece (i.e., characters, plot, setting,
etc.)
CHARACTERS
Mathilde Loisel– The protagonist who desires a luxurious life and suffers due to her
pride and dishonesty.
Madame Forestier- Mathilde’s wealthy friend who lends her the necklace.
Monsieur Loisel– Mathilde’s supportive husband, who sacrifices his comfort to help her
replace the lost necklace.
SETTING
The story has taken place in the late 19th century, during a specific time period in
France that is characterized by a great social, economic change, specifically heavy
consumerism, as embodied by Mathilde and her longing for fashionable items. Thus
period is called Belle Epoque or "Beautiful Age" (1871-1914).
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view of the story is third person limited point of view where the narrator is
the one who's familiar with the plot of the story, but such knowledge of the story is
limited, as it just more specifically revolves around one character.
CONFLICT
Man vs. Self – Mathilde Loisel is dissatisfied with her middle-class life and longs for
luxury and wealth. Her desire for status leads to her downfall.
Man vs. Society – Mathilde feels out of place in her social class and struggles against
societal expectations and limitations.
PLOT
Exposition
The story introduces Mathilde Loisel, a woman who believes she was meant for a
luxurious life but is instead married to a modest clerk, Monsieur Loisel. She resents her
situation and longs for wealth and social status. When her husband brings home an
invitation to a grand ball, she is upset because she has nothing elegant to wear.
Rising Action
Mathilde borrows a stunning diamond necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame
Forestier, to appear wealthy at the ball. She enjoys a glamorous evening, receiving
admiration and attention. Upon returning home, she realizes she has lost the necklace.
Mathilde and her husband desperately search for it but cannot find it.
Climax
Mathilde's great night at a party ended badly when she lost a borrowed necklace. They
couldn't find it, so they bought a new one, which caused ten years of very hard poverty
to pay the big cost. Mathilde got less pretty from the hard work, but she remembered
how great she felt at the party.
Falling Action
Mathilde and her husband decide to replace the lost necklace with a similar one. They
make an agreement with a jeweler and spend ten years working hard to pay off their
debt.
Resolution
- Years later, Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier and finally gathers the courage to
tell her the truth. To her shock, Madame Forestier reveals that the necklace was fake
and worth only five thousand francs.
4. How does the story explain the issues present in society?
- As the story is written in a period of social, economic and technological change in
France, we can say that the story somehow represents how those that belongs to the
lower or below middle class, aims to fit themselves in the vast and significant change.
During this time, the standard of security and living for rich and middle-class people, got
much better. They felt safer and more comfortable, so they looked back on this time as
a “golden age”. However, for people that belong to lower class, life didn’t improve nearly
as much, and they didn’t experience the same benefits. Though Mathilde isn’t that poor,
her desire to fit in, says a lot of how seeking of validation from others in the society they
belong during such a time was prevalent. Thus, the life and actions of Mathilde shows
how, possibly, a lot of people during such a beautiful age really wants to be known,
acknowledged, and be part of a so called “beautiful era”.
- The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant shows the problems in society, especially about
social class, and unfairness. Mathilde Loisel is unhappy with her simple life because
she dreams of being rich and admired. Society makes her believe that happiness
comes from wealth and appearance. She borrows a necklace to look rich at a party, but
when she loses it, she and her husband suffer for years to repay the debt. This shows
how people struggle to fit into a higher social class and how society value wealth and
appearance over genuine happiness and self-worth. In the end, Mathilde’s hard work
and suffering are wasted because the necklace was fake, showing how life can be
unfair, especially for people with little money or power. The story teaches that chasing
wealth and status can lead to unnecessary suffering.
- The story highlights societal issues such as social class struggles, materialism, and
the consequences of dishonesty. It portrays how people often measure their worth
based on wealth and appearances, leading to unnecessary suffering. Mathilde’s
downfall reflects how individuals can be trapped by societal expectations and personal
vanity, ultimately shaping their fate.