The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant: Character Analysis Quiz

Study Notes

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

Plot

"The Necklace" is a short story by French author Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1884. The story follows Mathilde Loisel, a woman who longs for a more glamorous life. When her husband is invited to a ball, she fears she will be embarrassed by her lack of jewels. Her friend Madame Forestier lends her a diamond necklace, but on the night of the ball, Mathilde loses it. Desperate to replace it, Mathilde and her husband Loisel go into debt, borrowing from friends and moneylenders, to buy a fake necklace from a jeweler. They spend years paying off their deb, which leads to their financial ruin and dissatisfaction with their lives. The story takes a twist when Madame Forestier reveals that her necklace was made of imitation diamonds, leaving Mathilde and her husband to question their choices and the value of their pursuit of wealth and status.

Character Analysis

Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the story. She is a woman who is unsatisfied with her life and yearns for a more luxurious existence. Her desire for wealth and status leads her to make poor decisions and eventually ruin her life. Loisel, Mathilde's husband, is a clerk who is supportive of his wife but is also drawn into her pursuit of luxury. He is willing to go into debt to replace the necklace, but his actions have dire consequences for their family. Madame Forestier is Mathilde's friend who lends her the necklace. She is described as a kind, generous woman, but she is also a victim of the situation, as Mathilde and Loisel are unable to repay the debt for the replacement necklace.

Symbolism

The necklace symbolizes the pursuit of wealth and status. It represents the superficial values that society places on luxury items and the lengths people are willing to go to acquire them. The fake necklace that Mathilde and her husband buy is a symbol of their failure to attain the real thing, and the imitation diamonds represent the illusory nature of their desires. The necklace also symbolizes the burden of debt, as Mathilde and Loisel are forced to pay for the replacement necklace for years, ultimately leading to their financial ruin.

Irony

The story is filled with irony. Mathilde is embarrassed that she has no jewels to wear to the ball, but her friend Madame Forestier reveals that her necklace was made of imitation diamonds. The couple spends years trying to replace the necklace, only to find out that it was worthless. The irony also lies in the fact that their pursuit of wealth and status ultimately leads to their downfall.

Themes

The main themes of "The Necklace" include the dangers of consumerism, the pursuit of wealth and status, and the consequences of poor decisions. The story also explores the concept of appearance versus reality, as the necklace appears to be a real diamond necklace but is actually an imitation.

Vocabulary

Aspirant: someone who is striving to attain a particular goal or status.
Pate: paste, a mixture of flour and water used as a binding agent in making bread or as a base for paints or adhesives.
Quaint: peculiar, unusual, or charming, often in a nostalgic or old-fashioned way.
Soiree: a social gathering, typically in the evening.
Ungainly: awkward or ungraceful in appearance or movement.

Phrases

An eye for an eye: a situation in which the punishment fits the crime, with no additional punishment or reward.
Bearing up: being able to cope with a difficult or challenging situation.
Catching on: understanding or becoming aware of something.
Going through the motions: performing actions without any genuine emotion or sincerity.
Taking stock: reviewing or considering the current state of something, often in preparation for making changes.

Figurative Language

Mortified: feeling intense embarrassment or shame.
Facing the music: acknowledging the consequences of one's actions.
In a twist: an unexpected turn of events.
Paying the piper: suffering the consequences of one's actions.
Going down: experiencing a decline or failure.

Description

Test your understanding of 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant with questions about the plot, characters, symbolism, irony, themes, vocabulary, phrases, and figurative language used in the story. Explore the deeper meaning behind Mathilde Loisel's pursuit of wealth and status and the consequences of her actions on her life and family.