Example Theme Essay for Book Analysis

with a step-by-step tutorial

To begin, read “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. You can find it on the internet at
http://www.bartleby.com/195/20.html. If you print it out, it will be six pages long. These
page numbers will be used as reference for the following exercise.

STEP 1
First, recall the definition of theme:

A theme is a general insight about life or human nature which the author expresses
through the particulars of a story.
Theme is expressed through the details of a story, which means it is important to
grasp all of those details (characters, conflict, setting, symbols, etc.) in order to
properly identify the theme. Of course, this also makes theme one of the most
important concepts to learn, as it allows you to understand the story as a whole.

Here are a few points to remember:

1. The theme should be specific enough so that it is clearly taken from the story,
rather than applied to it.
2. The theme should not be a cliché (an old and overused statement like “appearances
are deceiving” or “cheaters never prosper”).
3. Neither should it be a sentence about plot, such as “Mathilde became destitute to
pay for the necklace she lost, but later found out that it was not made of real
diamonds.” Rather, it should be a statement which applies to life outside of the story.

To discover a story’s theme, identify motifs. These will be the building blocks of your theme
statement.

A motif is a recurring thematic element. It is a simple, even single-word concept,

such as love, honesty, curiosity or the struggles of poverty. It is an idea that comes
up repeatedly in a story, such as suffering in The Book of Job, slavery in Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, or tradition in Fiddler on the Roof. Notice that a motif does not give
any insight into life or human nature. It is just a topic. A theme statement is what an
author’s story has to say about his motifs.

In “The Necklace,” some motifs are: luxury, vanity, and suffering.

Now, examine these motifs to develop a theme statement.

What does the story show about these motifs? Look for evidence from the text.
1. Luxury: The costlier things in life are the object of Mathilde’s obsession, and the
diamond necklace is an embodiment of all the riches and pleasures Mathilde would
like to have.
2. Vanity: Mathilde’s vanity keeps her from enjoying the simple pleasures of her own
life (such as “the good pot-au-feu,” the help of a servant girl from Brittany, and the
companionship of her school friend, Mme. Forester). It leads her to choose the most
stunning piece of jewelry, which turns out to be a fake. Like the necklace itself, her
 vain life is worthless. As a result of her vanity and loss of the necklace, Mathilde
must toil for years, and it costs her the very focus of her vanity—her beauty and
elegance. So, the story shows that vanity is foolish and causes suffering.
3. Suffering: Mathilde is unhappy from the start because of her obsession and makes
her husband unhappy by her discontent. Ultimately this leads to far greater suffering
as Mathilde and her husband endure ten years of hardship as a result of Mathilde’s
vanity. They experience the pains of dreary, rigorous work and worry.

Another approach to discovering a story’s theme is to examine the characters.

Does the character learn anything as a result of his experiences? Does the audience
learn something? Consider a character’s actions and the consequences. Is he
rewarded or punished? What does that show about the way he was behaving?

Examine the main character first, and then other significant characters.

- Mathilde is vain, and she is humbled because of her vanity. She loses the object of
her vanity (her beauty and grace). She “learned the horrible life of the needy."
Previously disgusted by housework, she now makes a life of it—dishes, laundry,
garbage, and bartering for groceries.
- Her husband's selflessness contrasts with Mathilde's self-absorption. When they
discover the necklace is gone, he immediately goes searching for it (while Mathilde
sits at home). He gives up all his money and takes out many loans to cover the costs.
He suffers because of his wife's vanity.
- Mme. Forester, the only other character named, is similarly generous. She allows
Mathilde to borrow any jewels. The beauty and grace she retains (during the ten years
Mathilde becomes a rough woman) are a reminder of what Mathilde has sacrificed as
a result of her vanity.

Now, review the evidence you have gathered to determine the central theme.

Which of the identified themes is the major insight of the story? Which one is best
communicated by all the story’s details? It is sometimes helpful to combine some of
the simple themes.

The author does not seem to condemn luxury itself, since Mme. Forester seems to
moderately enjoy luxuries beyond Mathilde’s means. We can discard that motif.
Rather, the story presents a powerful insight about vanity and suffering, which is
supported by analysis of the characters and the plot.

Now formulate a theme statement: a complete sentence, written in third person, that
communicates the message of the story.

Theme statement: Vanity keeps one from appreciating the truly worthwhile aspects
of life and brings suffering for oneself and one’s companions.

STEP 2
Now that the theme has been identified, it is time to organize the essay. For a one paragraph
essay, proper outline form is not necessary. Use a method of organization that helps you see
 the orderly list of the examples and points you will be giving to prove your theme. Examples
should usually be in chronological order.

Simple Theme Outline

A. Topic sentence - (The topic sentence should have three features:)

1. the book’s title and author
2. the word "theme" to introduce the theme statement
3. the theme statement: Vanity keeps one from appreciating the truly worthwhile
aspects of life and brings suffering for oneself and one’s companions.

B. One or two sentences give brief background of the main character: his occupation,
personality, and situation.
Mathilde is a beautiful working class woman obsessed with the vain things in life.

C. A good, detailed theme statement usually has more than one part, and each part should be
organized and defended in order.
1. Vanity keeps Mathilde from enjoying life's simple pleasures.
a. the good pot-au-feu
b. help of girl from Brittany
c. friendship of Mme. Forester
2. Vanity leads to suffering for Mathilde and her husband.
a. Mathilde's vanity and haste at the party
b. the cold walk and upsetting discovery
c. husband takes out loans and gives up inheritance
d. Mathilde's grueling work and loss of beauty

D. A concluding sentence ties up the essay, summarizing it or making a final comment.

STEP 3
Write the essay, working from the outline. (The blue side bars give additional helps.)

“The Necklace,” by Guy de Maupassant, presents the theme that vanity keeps one Use the word
“The
Necklace,” "theme"
since it is a from appreciating the truly worthwhile aspects of life and brings suffering for oneself and before you
short story, is give the theme
in quotation statement in
marks. Italicize
one’s companions. The main character of the story, Mme. Mathilde Loisel, is a working your topic
the titles of sentence.
novels or plays. class married woman who possesses a vanity that keeps her from enjoying simple daily

pleasures. She cannot bear living without an elegant setting, and she allows the humbler

details of her life to disgust her. Thus, though her husband can sit down to eat pot-au-feu

“with an air of satisfaction,” Mathilde miserably wishes for delicately prepared trout or
quail.1 She is not grateful for the household help of a “little girl from Brittany,”

imagining instead “tall footmen in knee breeches” (1). Furthermore, Mathilde’s vanity

causes her to neglect the friendship of a rich schoolmate, Mme. Forester, because their

visits cause Mathilde to weep “from chagrin, from regret, from despair, and from

distress” (2). As the story continues, Mathilde’s vanity leads to even more serious

repercussions. To attend a prestigious party, Mathilde is not content to have a new dress;

she must borrow Mme. Forester’s flashiest jewelry, a “superb necklace of diamonds” (3).

At the party, Mathilde’s success only supports her extravagant self-view. Ashamed of her

“modest” wraps, she rushes into the street before her husband can call a carriage (3). Her

vain, dramatic act causes them to suffer a long, cold walk before finding a grungy cab to

drive them home, where they realize that the diamond necklace is missing.

Consequently, her husband takes out loans and gives up his inheritance to pay for a

replacement necklace, and, along with his wife, must suffer “the horrible life of the

needy” (5). Mathilde, previously disgusted by housework, is forced to make a life of

dishes, laundry, garbage, and bartering for groceries, and her husband slaves to pay off

the debt. After ten years of this life, though her friend Mme. Forester is still a refined

lady, Mathilde has become a "robust woman, hard and rough" (5). She loses the very

objects of her vanity, namely her beauty and grace. Her story encourages careful

evaluation of one’s treasures and a hasty disposal of any false ones.

1
Guy De Maupassant, "The Necklace": printed page 1, http://www.bartleby.com/195/20.html (accessed
November 18, 2011). All subsequent references will be taken from this text.
Final Notes

The minimum word count is 300 words. This represents the very minimum amount of words
necessary to grade the essay. Students who are aiming for A level essays, however, should exceed this
minimum, as in the sample.

Do not use slang, contractions, or first or second person pronouns (I, me, my, we, us, you, yours and
so forth), unless they belong to a quote from the novel.

Quotes, and citation of quotes, are not required in book analyses at the ninth and tenth grade levels.
However, students are free to begin this important practice early. See the Course Resources for your
English course on your MySeton page for the resource called "How to Cite Quotations in a Book
Analysis Essay."

Do not submit outlines with your book analyses for grading.