What is a theme of Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace"?

Question

Explain how Mathilde's words, thoughts, and actions help to develop/show this theme. You can also use other characters if desired.

Answer 1

One theme of Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace" is the destructive power of materialism and the pursuit of prestige and wealth. Mathilde's words, thoughts, and actions throughout the story illustrate and contribute to the development of this theme.

At the beginning of the story, Mathilde is portrayed as discontented with her humble life and obsessed with outward appearances. She constantly complains about her modest lifestyle and dreams of being rich and admired by others. This is evident when she laments, "She was unhappy all the time… because she lacked anything and everything." These thoughts reveal her excessive desire for material possessions and her fixation on status.

Mathilde's obsession with wealth leads her to deceive her husband and borrow a luxurious necklace from a friend for a high-society event. Her belief that appearances are everything is emphasized by her refusal to attend the event without proper jewelry. Her actions showcase her desperation to fit into high society and her willingness to go to extreme lengths to achieve it.

After losing the borrowed necklace, instead of being honest with her friend, Mathilde and her husband replace it by buying a new one. This choice puts them in severe financial debt and forces them into a life of poverty for the next ten years. Mathilde's action of trying to deceive her friend and then paying for the necklace with their life savings highlights how materialism and the desire to maintain appearances can lead to disastrous consequences.

Furthermore, Mathilde's suffering in poverty offers a contrasting perspective on the covetousness she initially displayed. Through her experiences, the story showcases the vanity and superficiality of a materialistic mindset. Mathilde's words and actions demonstrate the irony of her pursuit of status and how it ultimately led her to a life of misery.

Overall, Mathilde's words, thoughts, and actions in "The Necklace" contribute to the overarching theme of the destructive power of materialism. Her relentless pursuit of wealth and status ultimately leads to her downfall, highlighting the futility and emptiness of such desires.