THE NECKLACE

By Guy de Maupassant
 AUTHOR’S BACK GROUND
Guy de Maupassant
 D.o.b.: 5 August 1850
 P.o.b.: Normandy France
 Literary Career :

- A French short story writer,novelist, poet,dramatist, journalist & a travel writer

- His writing mostly were based on his personel experience
- Gustave Flaubert, a very good friend & mentor, was a great influence in his life
& career.
- His writings were mostly abput ordinary people.
- He wrote about greed, vanity, envy, hypocrisy selfishness & cruelty

The last 18 months of his life was spent in a mental home in

Paris. He died on 6 July 1893 at the age of 43 in Dr
Blanche’s private asylum in Passy, Paris.
Guy de Maupassant was known for his style of stating clearly
rather than to imply.
THEME

 The story focuses on the way life seems to

mock us. By an unexpected twist of event,
the characters lose control over their lives.
 SETTING
 Time : 19th century in France
 Place :
Rue des Martyrs, Paris ~ A small shabby flat in which the Loisels live before
losing the necklace

Ministry of Public Instruction ~ Madame Loisel’s husband works as a clerk

Palace of The Ministry of Public Instruction ~ The grand party is held at this
place

The Palais Royal ~ Expensive jewellery is sold at this place

A rented garret under the roof ~ A small uncomfortable room at the top of
the house (attic). This is where the Loisels lived after they lost the necklace.

The Champs Elysees ~ A park in Paris

PLOT
 Madame Loisel was dissatisfied with her life and home.
She was unhappy because sheonly married a clerk. She
wanted to be rich
 Her husband was a simple man. He received an
invitation to a grand party given by The Minister of Public
Instruction.
 Instead of being happy, she cried because she had no
suitable gown to wear. She behaved like a spoilt child
and was ungrateful towards her husband
 She borrowed her former schoolmate’s necklace.
 At the grand party, Madame Loisel was prettier than
other woman. She was a great success
 However, when she reached home, she
discovered that the necklace was missing.
 They searched in every jewellery shop for a
similar necklace. After that, they were forced to
live in poverty
 Due to the debt, she looks very old and no
longer dreams a life of luxury. She has grown
more matured.
 After 10 years, she meets her former school
friend and informs her of her poverty due to the
loss of the necklace. Madame Loisel is then told
that the necklace was an imitation
TONE
The narrator’s tone is
sympathetic. He sympathizes with
Mathilde and also with Loisel as
he tried to make Mathilde happy.
The narrator recognizes Mathilde’s
courage in giving up her way of life
to live in poverty in order to repay
the loans.
MORAL VALUES

 We should be content and make the most

of what we have
 Happiness does not depend only on
wealth and position
 Some mistakes can change our lives
forever
 Hardship can help to make us strong
 Honesty has it own reward
Character & Characteristics
1. The main character : Madame Mathilde
Loisel
 Before the loss of the necklace:
- Unhappy & dissatisfied with her life
(She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the
bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of the
curtains)
- Irratated & ungrateful
(Instead of being delighted as her husband had hoped, she threw
the
invitation on the table crossly, muttering, “What do you wish me to
do with
that?)
- Materialistic
(“She had no gowns, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing
but that.
She would have liked so much to please, to be envied, to be
charming, to be sought after)
- Self-centred & vain
(She was prettier than any other woman
present elegant, graceful, smiling and filled
with joy)
- Too much pride
(“No, there’s nothing more humilliating than
to look poor among other woman who are
rich)
 After the loss of the necklace
- Hardworking & humble
(“and she dressed like a woman of her people, she
went to the fruiterer, the grocer, the
butcher, a basket on her arm, bargaining, meeting
with impertinence, defending her
miserable money, sou by sou)
- Responsible
(“That dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay
it.”)
 Supporting characters:
1. Monsieur Loisel
- Simple
- Kind & willing to sacrifice
- Patient
- Practical
-Resourceful

2. Madame Forestier
- Rich
- Generous
- Symphatetic
 Literary Devices

 Personification
 Simile
 Amplification
 Anaphora
 Hyperbole
 Metaphor
 Anticlimax
 Contrast
 Poin of View

 An omniscient or all-knowing narrator. He

describes events and the thoughts and
feelings of the characters. He also
comments on certain facts of life
 Atmosphere

 One of discontent and despair

 Delight and triumph
 Hopelessness and a sense of defeat
Prepared by September.