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 difference between acts of good and acts of evil
the foolishness of focusing on appearances, and then falling for an illusion
the desire for power that sometimes comes along with wealth
the purity of youth, compared to the wisdom that comes with age
the difference between acts of good and acts of evil
the foolishness of focusing on appearances, and then falling for an illusion
the desire for power that sometimes comes along with wealth
Answers
GPT-5 mini
The third option: the foolishness of focusing on appearances, and then falling for an illusion.
Explanation: Madame Loisel’s longing for social status and a glamorous appearance drives the plot. The necklace—thought to be real, but actually costume jewelry—stands for vanity, materialism, and the deceptive value of appearances. Her willingness to borrow and then hide the loss, and the decade of ruinous labor to replace it, emphasize the story’s critique of pride and illusion rather than themes like purity, simple moral dichotomies, or a direct pursuit of power.
Explanation: Madame Loisel’s longing for social status and a glamorous appearance drives the plot. The necklace—thought to be real, but actually costume jewelry—stands for vanity, materialism, and the deceptive value of appearances. Her willingness to borrow and then hide the loss, and the decade of ruinous labor to replace it, emphasize the story’s critique of pride and illusion rather than themes like purity, simple moral dichotomies, or a direct pursuit of power.