The short story “The Necklace” by guy de Maupassant tells us about a beautiful woman, Mrs. Loisel who is married into a family of low social status. Although her husband is employed and supplies the family, madam Loisel is unhappy because she is not bestowed with beautiful clothes and jewelry in compliment with her beautiful self. Madam Loisel then receives an invitation to a ball where she borrows a beautiful diamond necklace and loses it and falls in debt as she tries to replace the lost diamond which In turn is revealed to be an imitation.
Symbolism and allegories can be found in several parts of the necklace. The first allegory can be found within madam Loisel. As madam Loisel is very beautiful, her beauty matches the glamour and the beauty of the necklace, which is adorned with a diamond. So the necklace is actually an allegory for madam Loisel herself. But as the necklace is beautiful and graceful, it is in fact and imitation. The necklace also relates this way with madam loisel, as beautiful as she is, adorned with the dress and the necklace, she in reality comes from the lower classes of society and is not wealthy or in possession of a huge inheritance, therefore a fake. Furthermore, as much as she mingles with the higher class society, hoping to join their class of society of wealth and position, Madame Loisel is in fact already married, unless she chooses to be divorced. As much or as hard madam Louisel may try, in allegoric terms, she may never become a real diamond.
The second allegory also involves the necklace, found in the beginning of the fifth chapter. Madame Loisel has lost her necklace after the ball and frantically searches for the lost diamond necklace immediately. She offered rewards in hopes of returning the lost necklace, waiting for a week before losing her hope as well. Madame Loisel then attempts to replace the necklace with a substitution costing a hefty thirty six thousand francs, effectively putting herself and her husband in a debt which lasted ten years. The way the necklace is lost in the midst of her ecstasy of joy and pleasure relates to the way madam Loisel is lost in the midst of panic and confusion of falling in debt. As she intends to borrow the necklace for one night of joy and pleasure, Madame loisel also traded her beauty and glamour that night as well.
The third allegory is located in the last chapter of this tragic and ironic short story. After repaying her debts to various money usurpers, madam Loisel regains some of her pride and approaches Madame Forestier, who did not recognize the sight of her old friend until madam Loisel told her name. Loisel told Madame Forrestier of her troubles to replace her necklace which Madame forrestier did not notice, then reveals to Madame loisel and us that her necklace was imitation and was only worth five hundred francs at most. As we related that the necklace is an allegory for Madame Loisel, which in all sense of the word is fake and that Madame Loisel herself is a poor woman pretending to be rich, we can also relate the diamond necklace that madame Loisel replaced, is an allegory for Madame Forrestier, who is a wealthy upper society woman and also genuine as is the diamond necklace which is without a doubt also genuine. As with a favorite slogan for diamonds, “ Diamonds are Forever” Madame Forrestier also retains her beauty and attractiveness along the ten years spent between her and madame Loisel.
Nabila Yasmin Sofyan Clare de Lune by Guy de Mapassaunt symbolism/allegory
“Claire de Lune” by Guy de Mapassaunt, is a short story of which tells us about an extremely religious man who gave credence that he lived for a purpose, and that was to be a “soldier of God.” This man, Abbe, is a fanatic who strongly beliefs that women were put on this earth in order to test men, to lure men into her arms. He believed women are nothing more than trash. But one girl, his niece who he dearly loves was one exception. Abbe was blinded by the love of his own niece, he would have never thought that his little princess would soon grow up and become like those women he himself disapproved of.
The author Guy, uses a lot of symbolism and allegories in order to tell the true meanings behind his story, and what he is trying to reach out to his readers. His intentions were to express about the ‘beauty’ of love, and ones judgments or perspectives of things such as life itself, which are as well major themes to this story. The title itself, “Clare de Lune”, which translates to moonlight, symbolizes love in one of many ways.
“He opened the door to go out, but stopped on the sill, surprised by the splendid moonlight, of such brilliance as is seldom seen.” (3rd page 2nd paragraph)
The love for his niece and nature was able to save him from going crazy as soon as he saw moonlight for the first time. He was able to redeem himself the minute he stepped out of the house, which he was about to punish his no longer little niece for becoming what he has long deceived. The moonlight was able to keep Abbe sane, and it as well helped Abbe to discover his true self.
Abbe’s niece, similar to “Clair de Lune” symbolizes love as well. She gives Abbe an opening to a new world, a world of no worries and no beliefs. Abbes love for his niece was able to change his perspectives towards women, even though he saw his niece of nothing but his little girl, a little angel. This proves that ‘LOVE’ is powerful, as shown when Abbe had come to his senses when he thought of his niece while in the verge of punishing her.
“Abbe Marignan’s martial name suited him well..” ( 1st page 1st paragraph)
“Soldier of God,” as perceived above, is a ‘symbol’ of Abbe. He is well known for his religious beliefs. This ‘title’ symbolizes him well in the beginning of this short story, he was known for being a strong, firm man who only believed and thought of God. But towards the end of this story, Abbe began to realize his true morals. “Soldier of God,” does not necessarily have to symbolize a dangerously religious man as described in the beginning of the story of Abbe, who is violent, throwing chairs and breaking clubs when he is mad. But as we see towards the end of this short story, “soldier of God” symbolizes a different side of Abbe, one which still had strong faith but one which is as well increasingly calm. Being “soldier of God” fits Abbe well, not because of his religious views but because he was able to see light in the end of the tunnel. In other words, he was able to see the real meaning of having ‘love for God’ which was to be peaceful and patient. By the end, Guy de Maupassant was able to express his story through symbolizing, or giving meaning to something so unique and so small. He was able to put in his readers’ minds the perspectives he was trying to reach out, like moonlight for example and what it meant to his story, and what it symbolizes.
“Clair De Lune” the literal translation for “moonlight” presented by Guy De Maupassant,a French Writer is a classical portrait of a short story that exceeds its perspective of one character’ strong beliefs and faith, in which contradicts the irony of the whole chapter of his life.
It sets its setting in France, at the time of the French Revolution when the war of Franco-Prussian was still a tentative issue among the French. Guy De Maupassant’ choice of theme itself is purely broad, however with his whiplash twist of ending; the third point of view perspective in his short story remarkably captured many attention to the readers.
In the life of Abbe Marignan; the main character, he “sincerely believed that he knew his God, understood his plans, desired and intentions”. Under this circumstances, it is given that the main character sees him self as a soldier of god and not just as a normal priest. He believed that he had the right to exploit God’ words and uses them in practical uses whenever he believes to be Gods intentions. Surely, his beliefs were strong and upright. He is a logical man who believed that everything has to happen for a logical reason. In his conscious he hated woman and believed that their “sole purpose is to tempt and test man”. Still, even nuns who had already taken their vows and chose the path of enlighten, Abbe Marignan still oversees their morale status and can only judged their flaws, that they are a woman.
However, one of the ironies that was deliberately shown was in the presence of a character, the character who clouded Abbe Marignan’ judgment who was his niece. Even she was described by Abbe Marignan to be “pretty, brainless madcap” and seemingly was just like one of Abbe Marignan’ expectations of a woman, his niece exceeded his expectations by the innocence that surrounds her presence, her characteristic is unlike other woman; she would “dart forward to catch some disgusting flying creature, crying it back and always compliment the beauty of that creature” which generally is not beautiful at all. Despite her age and family related, Abbe Marignan was bewildered by her innocence so much that for once he considered that in the world not all woman’ sole purpose is to tempt and seduce man. Her innocence not only clouded Abbe Marignan’ judgment but left him to be more human like. The irony affected the plot to be more unpredictable and increases the tension alongside before reaching the climax.
Another irony that was present in Clair De Lune was at the end of the story, the plot discuses the tense of malevolence schematic of Abbe Marignan following his niece and saw her being romantic with another man. At that moment he was about to explode and rendered his anger on a chair and broke it, even his status was a highly, uptight priest.
At the “edge of meadow, under the arch of trees bathed in a shining mist” described by Guy De Maupassant is a view that Abbe Marignan never thought to witnessed in this surreal perspective, with the glistened moonlight, everything seemed to be to serene to ceased. Even though he knew that at night the view can be more beautiful. Such beauty caused Abbe to back down, even though he knew, in his logic the right thing to do was to bring to an end of his niece’ relationship but he was unable because of the beauty of love present in both nature and his niece’ relationship. He said that “Perhaps God has made such nights as these to idealize the love of men”. Evidently this has given a sense of irony, an irony that was proven by the style of the author that even the most righteous, logical man or woman is apprehended by the sight of love. Even as most prepared or strong perspective of life we had, love is not logical. Abbe Marignan’ beliefs contradict with the fact he lets these thoughts inside his conscious and still feel right about it. He felt ashamed because his effort this time may be conclusively mistaken. Now, in contradiction that he believed woman has a lower status than man is shaken and that he himself is a soldier of god is not true.
The irony changed the course of a simple religious beliefs and love themed story into a more complex interior plot and a whiplash ending that actually the morale is simple but Guy De Maupassant style of writing and interpretation of the story even though the period of time was far more progressive than its expected. Overall “Clair De Lune” has aspects of irony that amazes readers to put them giving in their full attention.
Symbolism ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant Isa Luna
The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is the story of a woman discontent with her life. Madame Loisel desires to be rich and wealthy, despite her poverty and poor living situation. With the low income her husband brings home from work, she lives the life of a middle class housewife. One evening, when Madame Loisel and her husband are invited to a ball, she asks for a dress and jewels to wear. A 400-franc dress and a borrowed diamond necklace help Madame Loisel feel she was the bell of the ball. But at the end of the event she finds the necklace missing and in debt to replace it. Ten years of work aggravated their living condition but found the money to pay for the debt. At an impromptu meeting with her friend, Madame Loisel finds out that the one she borrowed was merely a fake she had replaced with genuine diamonds.
Symbolism and allegories are very prominent in this short story. The necklace symbolizes Madame Loisel’s greed, vanity and worth. It represents the greed in Madame Loisel when she felt perfect when wearing one piece of diamond jewelry and an average dress.”She fastened it round her neck, upon her high dress, and remained in ecstasy at sight of herself”.
Madame Loisel’s vanity causes her to put too much value on herself just like how she put to much value on a fake diamond necklace. She thinks that she was meant to live in luxury and wealth because of her beauty and “feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury”. She suffers from the poorness she lives in and feels as if she had married beneath her. But despite her thoughts on luxury she was still just a middle class house wife with a pretty face, nonetheless worthless in value, a fake. She thought of the necklace ” a superb diamond necklace;[causing] her heart began to beat covetously” when it was merely replica, in similarity to Madame Loisel, a fake. In short, The necklace symbolizes Madame Loisel as beautiful but worthless.
The relationship between Madame Loisel and Madame Foriestier symbolizes the social gap in society and the difference between the rich and the poor. Madame Foriestier has enough income to purchase “bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a Venetian cross in gold and gems, of exquisite workmanship” while Madame Loisel suffered so much from poverty she could not find the pride to visit Madame Foriestier because she “suffered so keenly when she returned home. She would weep whole days, with grief, regret, despair, and misery” Difference in status also had impacts on their perceptions on each other and life. While Madame Loisel feels extravagant clad in a diamond necklace Madame Foriestier feels it not as priceless, since she is willing to lend it to a friend. The rich and Madame Foriestier have boxes of jewels, while Madame Loisel, symbolizing the poor, have to waste years and years of life working their fingers to the bone to replace one piece of jewelry.
Love, according to the bible, is a selfless act when one is willing to give anything with nothing in return. The money Madame Loisel’s husband sacrifices and the debts he made were symbols of his love for Madame Loisel. He generously gave up the 400 francs he saved up to buy a gun to give Madame Loisel a dress to wear to a one night event, putting her needs in front of his. He showed love when he eagerly let his inheritance, “thousand francs left to him by his father” be used to return a missing jewel. He even let his family live in debt to several people when he “He intended to borrow the rest. He did borrow it, getting a thousand from one man, five hundred from another, five louis here, three louis there” to make his wife happy and relieved. Though , in his gamble for money he knew the trouble he was getting himself in and he being “appalled at the agonising face of the future, at the black misery about to fall upon him, at the prospect of every possible physical privation and moral torture, he went to get the new necklace and put down upon the jeweller's counter thirty-six thousand francs”, paying for the jewel his wife lost. Despite the ego of Madame Loisel, he gave up 10 years of income and brought to himself 10 years of misery to right a wrong his wife committed.
In the story of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, symbols are evident in characters, events and even in theme. The necklace represents Madame Loisel shows her greed and vanity and proves her worth, being beautiful but of no value. The money and debt the husband makes symbolizes the love he has for her when he puts her needs in front of him with nothing in return. The relationship of Madame Loisel and Madame Foriestier also symbolize the differences between the rich and the poor, their different lifestyles and their perceptions in life.
“The Necklace” By Guy De Maupassant Analysis Of Symbolism
This analysis relates to the short story titled “The Necklace” By Guy De Maupassant. It is a tale about Mathilde Loisel, a young woman who is born into a poor family and because of her natural beauty, she believes she deserves a higher standing in society. All her life she considered herself to be destined for the finer things that wealth provides. She was not overly poor yet she lacked nice clothes, jewelry and precious possessions; these things were all that mattered to her. Greed had blinded her to what to overlook her husband whom, through his undying love and devotion, should have been worth far more to her than material things. Symbolically, her diamond necklace can be seen as symmetrical to her and her experiences in many ways. The first is that although Mathilde projects beauty and wealth, it is a false illusion. Even though she may appear to be of a high social standing wearing her expensive new dress and borrowed necklace, the truth is that underneath it all she is still poor and no matter how much she imagines and pretends, she cannot rise above the social status she was born into. This is similar to the diamond necklace in that no matter how beautiful and expensive it may appear, on further examination it is just an imitation, a copy masquerading as the real thing. The second allegory can be seen when Mathilde loses the necklace after going to a dance, she rushes out to find a cab and somewhere along the way loses her friend’s supposedly priceless Diamond necklace. Mathilde’s husband searches everywhere for it and when it cannot be found they are forced to buy a replacement. It was identical to the necklace she had previously worn and made with real diamonds which, at 30,000 francs was far beyond what they could afford. The debt accumulated from replacing the necklace consumed the rest of her life and she wore away her only real treasure, her beauty, working to repay the debt. So in an allegoric sense losing the necklace represented a loss of her entire life as she knew it. In her vain and greedy attempts at bettering her social status she destroyed both her and her husband’s lives.
The final comparison can be made between Madam Forestier and the necklace which Mathilde had worked so hard to replace. The symbolism seen here is that the replacement necklace is genuine both in its beauty and its worth, as is Madam Forestier, yet Mathilde who appears beautiful at first glance is actually false and because of her constant attempts to be something she is not, Mathilde ends up being lost just as the necklace was.
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The Necklace Allegory Analysis
The short story “The Necklace” by guy de Maupassant tells us about a beautiful woman, Mrs. Loisel who is married into a family of low social status. Although her husband is employed and supplies the family, madam Loisel is unhappy because she is not bestowed with beautiful clothes and jewelry in compliment with her beautiful self. Madam Loisel then receives an invitation to a ball where she borrows a beautiful diamond necklace and loses it and falls in debt as she tries to replace the lost diamond which In turn is revealed to be an imitation.
Symbolism and allegories can be found in several parts of the necklace. The first allegory can be found within madam Loisel. As madam Loisel is very beautiful, her beauty matches the glamour and the beauty of the necklace, which is adorned with a diamond. So the necklace is actually an allegory for madam Loisel herself. But as the necklace is beautiful and graceful, it is in fact and imitation. The necklace also relates this way with madam loisel, as beautiful as she is, adorned with the dress and the necklace, she in reality comes from the lower classes of society and is not wealthy or in possession of a huge inheritance, therefore a fake. Furthermore, as much as she mingles with the higher class society, hoping to join their class of society of wealth and position, Madame Loisel is in fact already married, unless she chooses to be divorced. As much or as hard madam Louisel may try, in allegoric terms, she may never become a real diamond.
The second allegory also involves the necklace, found in the beginning of the fifth chapter. Madame Loisel has lost her necklace after the ball and frantically searches for the lost diamond necklace immediately. She offered rewards in hopes of returning the lost necklace, waiting for a week before losing her hope as well. Madame Loisel then attempts to replace the necklace with a substitution costing a hefty thirty six thousand francs, effectively putting herself and her husband in a debt which lasted ten years. The way the necklace is lost in the midst of her ecstasy of joy and pleasure relates to the way madam Loisel is lost in the midst of panic and confusion of falling in debt. As she intends to borrow the necklace for one night of joy and pleasure, Madame loisel also traded her beauty and glamour that night as well.
The third allegory is located in the last chapter of this tragic and ironic short story. After repaying her debts to various money usurpers, madam Loisel regains some of her pride and approaches Madame Forestier, who did not recognize the sight of her old friend until madam Loisel told her name. Loisel told Madame Forrestier of her troubles to replace her necklace which Madame forrestier did not notice, then reveals to Madame loisel and us that her necklace was imitation and was only worth five hundred francs at most. As we related that the necklace is an allegory for Madame Loisel, which in all sense of the word is fake and that Madame Loisel herself is a poor woman pretending to be rich, we can also relate the diamond necklace that madame Loisel replaced, is an allegory for Madame Forrestier, who is a wealthy upper society woman and also genuine as is the diamond necklace which is without a doubt also genuine. As with a favorite slogan for diamonds, “ Diamonds are Forever” Madame Forrestier also retains her beauty and attractiveness along the ten years spent between her and madame Loisel.
Nabila Yasmin Sofyan
Clare de Lune by Guy de Mapassaunt
symbolism/allegory
“Claire de Lune” by Guy de Mapassaunt, is a short story of which tells us about an extremely religious man who gave credence that he lived for a purpose, and that was to be a “soldier of God.” This man, Abbe, is a fanatic who strongly beliefs that women were put on this earth in order to test men, to lure men into her arms. He believed women are nothing more than trash. But one girl, his niece who he dearly loves was one exception. Abbe was blinded by the love of his own niece, he would have never thought that his little princess would soon grow up and become like those women he himself disapproved of.
The author Guy, uses a lot of symbolism and allegories in order to tell the true meanings behind his story, and what he is trying to reach out to his readers. His intentions were to express about the ‘beauty’ of love, and ones judgments or perspectives of things such as life itself, which are as well major themes to this story. The title itself, “Clare de Lune”, which translates to moonlight, symbolizes love in one of many ways.
“He opened the door to go out, but stopped on the sill, surprised by the splendid moonlight, of such brilliance as is seldom seen.” (3rd page 2nd paragraph)
The love for his niece and nature was able to save him from going crazy as soon as he saw moonlight for the first time. He was able to redeem himself the minute he stepped out of the house, which he was about to punish his no longer little niece for becoming what he has long deceived. The moonlight was able to keep Abbe sane, and it as well helped Abbe to discover his true self.
Abbe’s niece, similar to “Clair de Lune” symbolizes love as well. She gives Abbe an opening to a new world, a world of no worries and no beliefs. Abbes love for his niece was able to change his perspectives towards women, even though he saw his niece of nothing but his little girl, a little angel. This proves that ‘LOVE’ is powerful, as shown when Abbe had come to his senses when he thought of his niece while in the verge of punishing her.
“Abbe Marignan’s martial name suited him well..” ( 1st page 1st paragraph)
“Soldier of God,” as perceived above, is a ‘symbol’ of Abbe. He is well known for his religious beliefs. This ‘title’ symbolizes him well in the beginning of this short story, he was known for being a strong, firm man who only believed and thought of God. But towards the end of this story, Abbe began to realize his true morals. “Soldier of God,” does not necessarily have to symbolize a dangerously religious man as described in the beginning of the story of Abbe, who is violent, throwing chairs and breaking clubs when he is mad. But as we see towards the end of this short story, “soldier of God” symbolizes a different side of Abbe, one which still had strong faith but one which is as well increasingly calm. Being “soldier of God” fits Abbe well, not because of his religious views but because he was able to see light in the end of the tunnel. In other words, he was able to see the real meaning of having ‘love for God’ which was to be peaceful and patient.
By the end, Guy de Maupassant was able to express his story through symbolizing, or giving meaning to something so unique and so small. He was able to put in his readers’ minds the perspectives he was trying to reach out, like moonlight for example and what it meant to his story, and what it symbolizes.
Irony present in "Clair De Lune"
“Clair De Lune” the literal translation for “moonlight” presented by Guy De Maupassant,a French Writer is a classical portrait of a short story that exceeds its perspective of one character’ strong beliefs and faith, in which contradicts the irony of the whole chapter of his life.
It sets its setting in France, at the time of the French Revolution when the war of Franco-Prussian was still a tentative issue among the French. Guy De Maupassant’ choice of theme itself is purely broad, however with his whiplash twist of ending; the third point of view perspective in his short story remarkably captured many attention to the readers.
In the life of Abbe Marignan; the main character, he “sincerely believed that he knew his God, understood his plans, desired and intentions”. Under this circumstances, it is given that the main character sees him self as a soldier of god and not just as a normal priest. He believed that he had the right to exploit God’ words and uses them in practical uses whenever he believes to be Gods intentions. Surely, his beliefs were strong and upright. He is a logical man who believed that everything has to happen for a logical reason. In his conscious he hated woman and believed that their “sole purpose is to tempt and test man”. Still, even nuns who had already taken their vows and chose the path of enlighten, Abbe Marignan still oversees their morale status and can only judged their flaws, that they are a woman.
However, one of the ironies that was deliberately shown was in the presence of a character, the character who clouded Abbe Marignan’ judgment who was his niece.
Even she was described by Abbe Marignan to be “pretty, brainless madcap” and seemingly was just like one of Abbe Marignan’ expectations of a woman, his niece exceeded his expectations by the innocence that surrounds her presence, her characteristic is unlike other woman; she would “dart forward to catch some disgusting flying creature, crying it back and always compliment the beauty of that creature” which generally is not beautiful at all. Despite her age and family related, Abbe Marignan was bewildered by her innocence so much that for once he considered that in the world not all woman’ sole purpose is to tempt and seduce man. Her innocence not only clouded Abbe Marignan’ judgment but left him to be more human like. The irony affected the plot to be more unpredictable and increases the tension alongside before reaching the climax.
Another irony that was present in Clair De Lune was at the end of the story, the plot discuses the tense of malevolence schematic of Abbe Marignan following his niece and saw her being romantic with another man. At that moment he was about to explode and rendered his anger on a chair and broke it, even his status was a highly, uptight priest.
At the “edge of meadow, under the arch of trees bathed in a shining mist” described by Guy De Maupassant is a view that Abbe Marignan never thought to witnessed in this surreal perspective, with the glistened moonlight, everything seemed to be to serene to ceased. Even though he knew that at night the view can be more beautiful. Such beauty caused Abbe to back down, even though he knew, in his logic the right thing to do was to bring to an end of his niece’ relationship but he was unable because of the beauty of love present in both nature and his niece’ relationship. He said that “Perhaps God has made such nights as these to idealize the love of men”. Evidently this has given a sense of irony, an irony that was proven by the style of the author that even the most righteous, logical man or woman is apprehended by the sight of love. Even as most prepared or strong perspective of life we had, love is not logical. Abbe Marignan’ beliefs contradict with the fact he lets these thoughts inside his conscious and still feel right about it. He felt ashamed because his effort this time may be conclusively mistaken. Now, in contradiction that he believed woman has a lower status than man is shaken and that he himself is a soldier of god is not true.
The irony changed the course of a simple religious beliefs and love themed story into a more complex interior plot and a whiplash ending that actually the morale is simple but Guy De Maupassant style of writing and interpretation of the story even though the period of time was far more progressive than its expected. Overall “Clair De Lune” has aspects of irony that amazes readers to put them giving in their full attention.
Symbolism ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant
Isa Luna
The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is the story of a woman discontent with her life. Madame Loisel desires to be rich and wealthy, despite her poverty and poor living situation. With the low income her husband brings home from work, she lives the life of a middle class housewife. One evening, when Madame Loisel and her husband are invited to a ball, she asks for a dress and jewels to wear. A 400-franc dress and a borrowed diamond necklace help Madame Loisel feel she was the bell of the ball. But at the end of the event she finds the necklace missing and in debt to replace it. Ten years of work aggravated their living condition but found the money to pay for the debt. At an impromptu meeting with her friend, Madame Loisel finds out that the one she borrowed was merely a fake she had replaced with genuine diamonds.
Symbolism and allegories are very prominent in this short story. The necklace symbolizes Madame Loisel’s greed, vanity and worth. It represents the greed in Madame Loisel when she felt perfect when wearing one piece of diamond jewelry and an average dress.”She fastened it round her neck, upon her high dress, and remained in ecstasy at sight of herself”.
Madame Loisel’s vanity causes her to put too much value on herself just like how she put to much value on a fake diamond necklace. She thinks that she was meant to live in luxury and wealth because of her beauty and “feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury”. She suffers from the poorness she lives in and feels as if she had married beneath her. But despite her thoughts on luxury she was still just a middle class house wife with a pretty face, nonetheless worthless in value, a fake. She thought of the necklace ” a superb diamond necklace;[causing] her heart began to beat covetously” when it was merely replica, in similarity to Madame Loisel, a fake. In short, The necklace symbolizes Madame Loisel as beautiful but worthless.
The relationship between Madame Loisel and Madame Foriestier symbolizes the social gap in society and the difference between the rich and the poor. Madame Foriestier has enough income to purchase “bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a Venetian cross in gold and gems, of exquisite workmanship” while Madame Loisel suffered so much from poverty she could not find the pride to visit Madame Foriestier because she “suffered so keenly when she returned home. She would weep whole days, with grief, regret, despair, and misery” Difference in status also had impacts on their perceptions on each other and life. While Madame Loisel feels extravagant clad in a diamond necklace Madame Foriestier feels it not as priceless, since she is willing to lend it to a friend. The rich and Madame Foriestier have boxes of jewels, while Madame Loisel, symbolizing the poor, have to waste years and years of life working their fingers to the bone to replace one piece of jewelry.
Love, according to the bible, is a selfless act when one is willing to give anything with nothing in return. The money Madame Loisel’s husband sacrifices and the debts he made were symbols of his love for Madame Loisel. He generously gave up the 400 francs he saved up to buy a gun to give Madame Loisel a dress to wear to a one night event, putting her needs in front of his. He showed love when he eagerly let his inheritance, “thousand francs left to him by his father” be used to return a missing jewel. He even let his family live in debt to several people when he “He intended to borrow the rest. He did borrow it, getting a thousand from one man, five hundred from another, five louis here, three louis there” to make his wife happy and relieved. Though , in his gamble for money he knew the trouble he was getting himself in and he being “appalled at the agonising face of the future, at the black misery about to fall upon him, at the prospect of every possible physical privation and moral torture, he went to get the new necklace and put down upon the jeweller's counter thirty-six thousand francs”, paying for the jewel his wife lost. Despite the ego of Madame Loisel, he gave up 10 years of income and brought to himself 10 years of misery to right a wrong his wife committed.
In the story of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, symbols are evident in characters, events and even in theme. The necklace represents Madame Loisel shows her greed and vanity and proves her worth, being beautiful but of no value. The money and debt the husband makes symbolizes the love he has for her when he puts her needs in front of him with nothing in return. The relationship of Madame Loisel and Madame Foriestier also symbolize the differences between the rich and the poor, their different lifestyles and their perceptions in life.
“The Necklace” By Guy De Maupassant
Analysis Of Symbolism
This analysis relates to the short story titled “The Necklace” By Guy De Maupassant. It is a tale about Mathilde Loisel, a young woman who is born into a poor family and because of her natural beauty, she believes she deserves a higher standing in society. All her life she considered herself to be destined for the finer things that wealth provides. She was not overly poor yet she lacked nice clothes, jewelry and precious possessions; these things were all that mattered to her. Greed had blinded her to what to overlook her husband whom, through his undying love and devotion, should have been worth far more to her than material things.
Symbolically, her diamond necklace can be seen as symmetrical to her and her experiences in many ways. The first is that although Mathilde projects beauty and wealth, it is a false illusion. Even though she may appear to be of a high social standing wearing her expensive new dress and borrowed necklace, the truth is that underneath it all she is still poor and no matter how much she imagines and pretends, she cannot rise above the social status she was born into. This is similar to the diamond necklace in that no matter how beautiful and expensive it may appear, on further examination it is just an imitation, a copy masquerading as the real thing.
The second allegory can be seen when Mathilde loses the necklace after going to a dance, she rushes out to find a cab and somewhere along the way loses her friend’s supposedly priceless Diamond necklace. Mathilde’s husband searches everywhere for it and when it cannot be found they are forced to buy a replacement. It was identical to the necklace she had previously worn and made with real diamonds which, at 30,000 francs was far beyond what they could afford. The debt accumulated from replacing the necklace consumed the rest of her life and she wore away her only real treasure, her beauty, working to repay the debt. So in an allegoric sense losing the necklace represented a loss of her entire life as she knew it. In her vain and greedy attempts at bettering her social status she destroyed both her and her husband’s lives.
The final comparison can be made between Madam Forestier and the necklace which Mathilde had worked so hard to replace. The symbolism seen here is that the replacement necklace is genuine both in its beauty and its worth, as is Madam Forestier, yet Mathilde who appears beautiful at first glance is actually false and because of her constant attempts to be something she is not, Mathilde ends up being lost just as the necklace was.
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