Question

The Diamond Necklace
by Guy de Maupassant

Every month they had to meet some notes, renew others, obtain more time.

Her husband worked evenings, making up a tradesman's accounts, and late at night he often copied manuscript for five sous a page.

This life lasted ten years.

At the end of ten years they had paid everything, everything, with the rates of usury and the accumulations of the compound interest.

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Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

In 1–2 sentences, evaluate how effectively the author uses key elements to add layers of meaning to the passage.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
In this passage, Guy de Maupassant effectively uses details of the couple's relentless financial struggle and the lengthy timeframe of ten years to underscore themes of sacrifice, the burdens of debt, and the relentless passage of time. The mention of usury and compound interest further emphasizes the oppressive weight of their situation, deepening the reader’s understanding of the profound consequences of societal expectations and material desires.