Question

In Guy de Maupassant's story, "The Necklace," what does the necklace symbolize, or represent?

the purity of youth, compared to the wisdom that comes with age

the foolishness of focusing on appearances, and then falling for an illusion

the difference between acts of good and acts of evil

the desire for power that sometimes comes along with wealth

Answer 1

In Guy de Maupassant's story "The Necklace," the necklace symbolizes **the foolishness of focusing on appearances, and then falling for an illusion**. The protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, yearns for a life of luxury and status, and the necklace represents her desire to project an image of wealth and importance. Ultimately, it becomes a catalyst for her downfall when she loses it and must endure years of hardship to replace it, revealing the superficiality of her aspirations and the dangers of valuing appearances over reality.