THE NECKLACETHE NECKLACE

By Guy de MaupassantBy Guy de Maupassant

AUTHOR’S BACK GROUND

Guy de Maupassant D.o.b.: 5 August 1850 P.o.b.: Normandy France Literary Career :

- A French short story writer,novelist, poet,dramatist, journalist & a travel writer - His writing mostly were based on his personel experience - Gustave Flaubert, a very good friend & mentor, was a great influence in his life

& career. - His writings were mostly abput ordinary people. - He wrote about greed, vanity, envy, hypocrisy selfishness & cruelty The last 18 months of his life was spent in a mental home in Paris. He died on 6 July 1893 at the age of 43 in DrBlanche’s private asylum in Passy, Paris.Guy de Maupassant was known for his style of stating clearly rather than to imply.

THEME

The story focuses on the way life seems to mock us. By an unexpected twist of event, the characters lose control over their lives.

SETTING

Time : 19th century in France Place :

Rue des Martyrs, Paris ~ A small shabby flat in which the Loisels live before losing the necklace

Ministry of Public Instruction ~ Madame Loisel’s husband works as a clerk

Palace of The Ministry of Public Instruction ~ The grand party is held at this place

The Palais Royal ~ Expensive jewellery is sold at this placeA rented garret under the roof ~ A small uncomfortable room at the top of the house (attic). This is where the Loisels lived after they lost the necklace.

The Champs Elysees ~ A park in Paris

P L O T

Madame Loisel was dissatisfied with her life and home. She was unhappy because sheonly married a clerk. She wanted to be rich

Her husband was a simple man. He received an invitation to a grand party given by The Minister of Public Instruction.

Instead of being happy, she cried because she had no suitable gown to wear. She behaved like a spoilt child and was ungrateful towards her husband

She borrowed her former schoolmate’s necklace.At the grand party, Madame Loisel was prettier than

other woman. She was a great success

However, when she reached home, she discovered that the necklace was missing.

They searched in every jewellery shop for a similar necklace. After that, they were forced to live in poverty

Due to the debt, she looks very old and no longer dreams a life of luxury. She has grown more matured.

After 10 years, she meets her former school friend and informs her of her poverty due to the loss of the necklace. Madame Loisel is then told that the necklace was an imitation

TONE

The narrator’s tone is sympathetic. He sympathizes with Mathilde and also with Loisel as he tried to make Mathilde happy. The narrator recognizes Mathilde’s courage in giving up her way of life to live in poverty in order to repay the loans.

MORAL VALUES

We should be content and make the most of what we have

Happiness does not depend only on wealth and position

Some mistakes can change our lives forever

Hardship can help to make us strongHonesty has it own reward

Character & Characteristics1. The main character : Madame Mathilde Loisel Before the loss of the necklace:

- Unhappy & dissatisfied with her life (She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of

the curtains) - Irratated & ungrateful (Instead of being delighted as her husband had hoped, she

threw the invitation on the table crossly, muttering, “What do you wish

me to do with that?)- Materialistic (“She had no gowns, no jewels, nothing. And she loved

nothing but that. She would have liked so much to please, to be envied, to be

charming, to be sought after)

- Self-centred & vain

(She was prettier than any other woman

present elegant, graceful, smiling and filled

with joy)

- Too much pride

(“No, there’s nothing more humilliating than

to look poor among other woman who are

rich)

After the loss of the necklace- Hardworking & humble (“and she dressed like a woman of her people,

she went to the fruiterer, the grocer, the butcher, a basket on her arm, bargaining, meeting

with impertinence, defending her miserable money, sou by sou)- Responsible (“That dreadful debt must be paid. She would

pay it.”)

Supporting characters:1. Monsieur Loisel

- Simple- Kind & willing to sacrifice- Patient- Practical-Resourceful

2. Madame Forestier- Rich- Generous- Symphatetic

Literary Devices

PersonificationSimileAmplificationAnaphoraHyperboleMetaphorAnticlimaxContrast

Poin of View

An omniscient or all-knowing narrator. He describes events and the thoughts and feelings of the characters. He also comments on certain facts of life

Atmosphere

One of discontent and despairDelight and triumphHopelessness and a sense of defeat

Prepared by September.