The Necklace

 (A I Patel)

B.Com. – I , Semester – II

Subject – English

MODULE -VI

B) The Necklace

-  Guy- de-Maupassant

About writer -

You are lucky to get the chance to study one of the most popular and anthocized story of a French writer. The name of the story is "The Necklace" or "The Diamond Necklace". The writer Guy-de-Maupassant is a Frenchman and you might be aware that the French pronunciation is much different from the English one. Do you know, for example, that Paris is 'Pari" for the French? Same is the condition of Maupassant. Its pronunciation can be stated as Mopassa. That aside, let us turn to the story and its author.

Maupassant is a 19th century novelist and short-story writer. He is known as a realist and a naturalist. We find a pessimist tone in his stories. The characters in his stories are disillusionment.

 

About Story

"The Necklace" was first published on 17 February 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois. The story beautifully presents the theme of dichotomy of reality versus appearance It displays the stark reality that love for false pride, ostentation and material wealth lead to misery while highlighting the benefits of a generous down to earth personality.

 

Story in short

Madame Mathilde Loisel was an exceptionally beautiful woman born in a poor family. Quite aware of her charms she believed that she was not born to rust in poverty. She had always imagined herself a woman fit to lead a life of an aristocrat and described her birth in a poor family an accident of fate. She married a low-paid clerk in the Ministry of Education. The man loved her and did his best to make her happy but was unable to fulfill her dreams of wealthy life. He could give little within his meagre salary.

One day he returned home with an envelope and gave it to his wife with pride. He had secured an invitation to the party hosted by the Ministry of Education party. He hoped that Mathilde, who rarely goes out would be glad at this grand opportunity. But he was in for a surprise. She declined to go with him, because she did not have a dress that would suit the occasion. She would feel embarrassed among the wealthy women, she said. He had never thought of this. Mathilde was heartbroken. He even agrees to buy a costly dress worth 40 Franks, forsaking his plan of purchasing a gun and going lark-hunting with friends. She buys a dress and still is not pleased because she had no diamond ornament to with the dress.

It was her husband who finally suggested a way out: borrow an ornament from your close friend Madame Jeanne Forestier. She is Mathilde refuses to go, for she has nothing to wear, and wishes not to be embarrassed. She found no difficulty in borrowing one a gorgeous looking costly diamond necklace. The party was a grand success for Mathilde. She proved an eye-catcher in the party and every man in the party was eager to dance with her. She enjoyed the party to the full and returned home with husband.

When she stood in front of her mirror to have one more look at her appearance she was in for a shock. The diamond necklace was not there around her neck. She had lost it. All efforts to find it were of no use. It was gone forever. Mathilde was heartbroken. How can they tell Madam Forestier that the necklace was lost? They must find one that looked exactly like the lost one.

After a lot of search they found, in Palais Royal, one that looked exactly like the lost necklace. The cost was 40,000 Franks. Haggling brought it down to 36,000 but even that was a big sum. Loan, borrowing, promissory notes and everything possible was done to get the amount to purchase the replica of the original diamond necklace and finally the necklace was returned to Madame Forestier.

Now they were compelled to save every possible farthing to raise the sum to repay the loans taken. That was a horrible experience for Mathilde, being not used to household chores. It took them ten years to wipe out all the loans and borrowings. By then Mathilde looked old and haggard. She had lost her charms. Her hair was disheveled, her dress creased.

One Sunday, to find some relief from the daily junk of work, she went for a walk along Champs-Elysees and there she met Madame Forestier. The woman did not recognize her and when Mathilde introduced herself, she was shocked to look at her appearance, while she looked as young and attractive a she was. Mathilde told her that she was responsible for it. She narrated the story of the loss of the necklace and the trouble she had to go through to return it to her friend. Madame Forestier was aghast. She embraced Mathilde and said that it was rather unfortunate that she went through all those trouble for an imitation necklace.