“The Necklace”

This story is about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who always dream
about a luxury life. She has almost no regard for her poor existence, her
husband, or her position in life, preferring instead she always find contentment in
fantasies of luxury and elegance. Her husband returns home one night, happily
holding an invitation to the Ministry of Education's formal party. He hopes that his
wife would be excited and happy but instead she cried and get angry. She told
his husband that she has nothing to wear and she has no accessories, her
husband is upset by her reaction and asks how much a suitable dress would
cost. That event led Mathilde to borrowed a necklace form her wealthy friend,
Madam Forestier. After they got home, Mathilde is saddened that the night has
ended. As she removes her wrap, she discovers that her necklace is no longer
around her neck. That is start where her life became miserable, they became
poor since they have replaced the necklace. But after years, Matilda's life
changed dramatically when she discovered that the necklace was fake.

The author's use of symbolism in the short story can also be analyzed.
The jewelry Mathilde acquired from Madame Forestier is the most prominent.
This is still a significant component of the narrative. It indicates that this jewelry is
nothing more than a material decoration worn by individuals, despite the
elegance and prestige connected with it. Mathilde's unhappy life was caused by
her obsession with replacing the diamond necklace. Her inability to accept her
current social standing also eventually led to her demise. The necklace is an
obvious indication for a person's drive to accomplish more than they already
have, as well as their commitment to material possessions. It becomes a
motivation that individuals strive for, rather than focusing on intangibles. This is
still the case for Mathilde, which eventually led to further complications. This
story serves as a warning that external comforts and luxuries aren't necessarily
what they appear to be.

When you look attentively, you will notice that the story takes place in
19th century France, where social status was still reflected in the way women
dressed and acquired material possessions. Mathilde`s action and decisions are
influenced by the materialistic values of French society. It is not her fault to try
and dream a luxury life and live a life that she just really wanted. Their culture is
about materialism and it affected her way of thinking. Moreover, they accepted
their fate and the consequences they have to go through. She and her husband
encountered too much problems but they never blamed each other. Instead, they
keep going and continue to live life as it is.

I used sociological and formalist approaches as I critique the story. I

am able to interpret and analyze what this story is all about. I dig deeper and look
beyond words to know better. Furthermore, it also led me to understand and
appreciate more the values and symbolism the story has. As I read and critique
this story, it gave me much better viewpoint of each character and realize the
deeper meaning of the theme and purpose of the story.

Llenarizas, Hanna Marie C.

HUMSS12-Artemis