The Necklace — Notes

Summary

Mathilde Loisel's Dissatisfaction

Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful young woman married to a petty clerk. She is always unhappy because she feels born for a life of luxury and delicacies, but lives in poverty. She dreams of elegant dinners, shining silver, and exquisite food, contrasting sharply with her own shabby apartment and simple meals.

Invitation to the Ball

Mathilde's husband, a loving and considerate man, brings home an invitation to a grand party at the Minister of Public Instruction's residence. Instead of being pleased, Mathilde is distressed because she has no suitable dress to wear. Her husband, though grieved, agrees to give her four hundred francs to buy a new gown, a sum he had saved for a hunting gun.

The Problem of Jewellery

With the dress sorted, Mathilde becomes anxious again as she has no jewellery to adorn herself with for the party. Her husband suggests wearing natural flowers, but she rejects this idea, feeling it would make her look poor. He then suggests she borrow jewellery from her wealthy schoolmate, Madame Forestier.

Borrowing the Necklace

Mathilde visits Madame Forestier, who generously tells her to choose any piece from her jewel-box. Mathilde is drawn to a superb necklace of diamonds and borrows it with great excitement, feeling ecstatic about her appearance.

The Ball and the Loss

Mathilde is a great success at the ball, being the prettiest and most admired woman there. She dances with delight, thinking only of the admiration she receives. After the ball, as they leave, she and her husband struggle to find a cab. Upon returning home, Mathilde discovers with horror that the diamond necklace is missing.

The Desperate Search and Replacement

The Loisels search everywhere for the lost necklace but find nothing. Her husband goes to the police and cab offices, and places an advertisement, offering a reward. After a week with no hope, they decide they must replace the jewel. They find a similar diamond necklace valued at forty thousand francs, which they purchase for thirty-six thousand francs. They use Loisel's savings and borrow the rest from usurers, making ruinous promises.

Ten Years of Hardship

Mathilde returns the new necklace to Madame Forestier, who seems unaware of the substitution. The Loisels begin a life of extreme hardship to repay the enormous debt. They dismiss their maid, move to cheaper lodgings, and Mathilde learns odious work like washing dishes and laundry. Her husband works evenings and nights doing copying. This life of necessity and poverty lasts for ten years.

A Chance Encounter and the Truth

After ten years, the debt is finally paid. Mathilde has become a strong, hard woman, aged by her ordeal. One day, she encounters Madame Forestier, who has remained young and pretty. Mathilde, feeling proud that the debt is settled, confesses that she lost the borrowed necklace and had to buy a replacement. Madame Forestier is shocked and reveals that her necklace was false and worth no more than five hundred francs.

Remember

The story highlights the devastating consequences of pride, vanity, and dishonesty, showing how a single act of deception can lead to years of suffering.

Exam-smart

Extract: "She suffered incessantly, feeling herself born for all delicacies and luxuries. She suffered from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls and the worn chairs. All these things tortured and angered her." Question: What does this extract reveal about Mathilde Loisel's character and her state of mind at the beginning of the story? Answer: This extract reveals Mathilde's deep dissatisfaction and unhappiness with her ordinary life. She feels entitled to a life of luxury and wealth but is trapped in poverty, which causes her constant suffering and anger. Her focus on material possessions and her discontent with her circumstances are evident.

Characters

Mathilde Loisel

She is a pretty, young lady born into a family of clerks, lacking a dowry and marrying a petty clerk.

• Dissatisfied and unhappy: She "suffered incessantly, feeling herself born for all delicacies and luxuries" and "suffered from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls and the worn chairs."
• Materialistic: She "loved only those things" (luxuries, jewels, fine clothes) and felt humiliated by her poverty.
• Proud and Vain: She was distressed at the thought of appearing "poverty-stricken" at the ball and was "ecstatic" when wearing the diamond necklace, focusing on admiration.
• Responsible and Sacrificing: After losing the necklace, she and her husband endured a decade of hardship to repay the debt, demonstrating great resilience and determination.
• Resigned and Changed: By the end, she has become a "strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the poor household," a stark contrast to her former self.

How she changes: Mathilde transforms from a discontented woman obsessed with luxury to a hardened, resourceful individual who endures immense hardship to rectify her mistake. Her ten years of poverty make her appreciate the value of hard work and sacrifice, though she never forgets her past glory.

Monsieur Loisel

He is Mathilde's husband, a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education.

• Kind and Considerate: He tries to please his wife, hoping the party invitation would make her happy, and readily gives her the money for a dress despite his own savings.
• Sacrificing: He postpones buying a gun to give Mathilde four hundred francs for her dress and works tirelessly to repay the debt for the replacement necklace.
• Supportive: He joins Mathilde in her search for the lost necklace and works overtime and late nights to earn money.
• Patient: He endures his wife's discontent and her transformation over the ten years.

How he changes: While not as dramatically altered as his wife, M. Loisel ages significantly due to the decade of hard work and stress, becoming "older by five years" and working "evenings... and nights."

Other characters

• Madame Forestier: Mathilde's rich friend from school. She is generous in lending her jewellery but is later revealed to be unaware of the true value of her lost necklace, which was a fake.

Remember

Mathilde's character arc is central to the story's message about contentment and the consequences of vanity.

Exam-smart

Source: "She was one of those pretty, young ladies, born as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks." Question: What does this line reveal about Mathilde Loisel's background and initial state of mind? Answer: This reveals that Mathilde was born into a poor family despite her beauty and inherent desire for a luxurious life. She felt trapped by her circumstances, leading to her perpetual unhappiness and dissatisfaction.

Themes and Message

The Dangers of Materialism and Unhappiness

Mme Loisel is perpetually unhappy because she yearns for a life of luxury and material possessions she cannot afford. The text shows this through her constant thoughts of "all delicacies and luxuries," her suffering from "the poverty of her apartment," and her disdain for her husband's simple pleasures, like "the good potpie." Her unhappiness is rooted in envy and dissatisfaction with her current circumstances, making her blind to the value of what she has. This theme highlights how an excessive focus on material wealth can lead to deep unhappiness and a distorted perspective on life.

The Consequences of Deception and Pride

Mme Loisel's decision to borrow and then replace the necklace out of pride and fear of admitting her mistake leads to a decade of hardship. The text illustrates this when she and her husband, after losing the necklace, decide to "replace this jewel" by borrowing heavily, rather than confessing to Mme Forestier. This choice forces them into a life of "necessity" and "odious work," where she "learned the odious work of a kitchen" and he worked "evenings" and "nights." This theme underscores the severe repercussions of dishonesty and the destructive nature of pride, which often exacerbate problems rather than solve them.

The Transformative Power of Hardship

The decade of poverty and hard labor radically changes Mme Loisel. The text describes her transformation from a woman who "suffered incessantly" for luxuries to a "strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the poor household." Her appearance and demeanor shift significantly, with "her hair badly dressed, her skirts awry, her hands red." This theme shows how facing severe adversity can forge resilience and a different kind of strength, even if it comes at the cost of former comforts and aspirations.

The Irony of Fate and Appearances

The story's climax reveals a profound irony: the expensive diamond necklace they worked for ten years to replace was actually fake. Mme Forestier’s statement, "Oh! My poor Matilda! Mine were false. They were not worth over five hundred francs!" highlights this bitter twist. This theme explores how appearances can be deceiving and how chasing a false ideal can lead to genuine ruin. It also comments on the unpredictable nature of life, where a "small thing will ruin or save one."

Why the Title

The title, "The Necklace," is central to the story because the borrowed necklace acts as the catalyst for the entire plot. It is the object that triggers Mme Loisel's desire for extravagance, her borrowing, her loss, and the subsequent decade of hardship and transformation. The story revolves around the loss and replacement of this single item, making the title a direct and fitting representation of the central conflict and its far-reaching consequences.

Tone and Mood

The tone of the story begins as somewhat sympathetic towards Mme Loisel's initial dissatisfaction, but it evolves to become critical and ironic as her choices lead to ruin. The author uses understatement and detached observation to highlight the absurdity of her desires and the gravity of her situation. The mood shifts from one of melancholy and dissatisfaction in the beginning, to excitement and temporary euphoria at the ball, then to despair, desperation, and grim determination during the decade of debt, and finally to a mood of bitter irony and poignant reflection at the end.

The Message

The story conveys a powerful message about the importance of contentment and appreciating what one has. It warns against the destructive nature of greed, envy, and the relentless pursuit of material wealth and social status. The narrative suggests that true happiness does not come from external possessions but from an inner sense of satisfaction and gratitude. Furthermore, it highlights the value of honesty and the profound, often unforeseen, consequences of pride and deception.

Remember

The core message revolves around appreciating one's circumstances and avoiding the pitfalls of materialism and deceit, as these can lead to immense suffering.

Exam-smart

A source-based question might present an extract describing Mme Loisel's initial unhappiness or her suffering during the ten years of debt. You would need to identify the specific words or phrases in the extract that reveal her materialistic desires or the consequences of her pride and loss of the necklace, and explain how these contribute to the overall themes of the story. For example, "She suffered from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls and the worn chairs" directly illustrates her dissatisfaction driven by material lack.

Language and Literary Devices

The Necklace

Style and Point of View

The story is told in the third-person omniscient point of view. This allows the narrator to access the thoughts and feelings of both Mathilde and her husband, providing a comprehensive understanding of their motivations and experiences. The tone is largely objective and detached, observing the events as they unfold, but it also carries a strong sense of irony and pathos, particularly in the latter half of the story. This narrative choice allows the reader to see the tragic consequences of Mathilde's vanity and her inability to be content with her lot, while also eliciting sympathy for the hardship she endures.

Remember

Literary devices like irony and symbolism are crucial for understanding the deeper meanings and author's critique within a story.

Exam-smart

An extract might be provided showing Mathilde's dissatisfaction or the discovery of the lost necklace. Questions could ask to identify the literary devices used in the extract and explain their effect on the reader or the theme of the story. For example, "Identify the literary device in the phrase 'born as if through an error of destiny' and explain how it contributes to the characterization of Mathilde."

Vocabulary

Remember

Pay attention to words that describe emotions and states of being, as they are crucial for understanding character motivations.

Exam-smart

An extract might be given, such as: "She suffered incessantly, feeling herself born for all delicacies and luxuries." You may be asked to explain the meaning of 'incessantly' in this context and how it reveals Mme Loisel's dissatisfaction with her life.

Questions and Answers

Textbook questions

1. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel — why is she always unhappy? Mme Loisel is a woman who is always unhappy because she feels she was born for a life of luxury and delicacies but was instead born into a family of clerks with no means. She suffers from the poverty of her apartment and feels out of place amidst wealth.

2. What kind of a person is her husband? Her husband is a simple, loving, and sacrificing man. He is content with his modest life and works as a clerk. He genuinely wants to please his wife, even to the extent of giving up his savings for her dress and later working tirelessly to repay a debt.

3. What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel? After obtaining the dress and borrowing jewellery, Mme Loisel is disturbed by the lack of any suitable jewellery to wear with her elegant outfit. She feels she will look "poverty-stricken" without it.

4. How is the problem solved? Her husband suggests she borrow jewellery from her wealthy friend, Mme Forestier. Mme Loisel, initially hesitant, goes to her friend and is allowed to choose any piece from her jewel-box.

5. What do M. and Mme Loisel do next? After discovering the necklace is lost, they search frantically in their home, the streets, and the carriage. M. Loisel visits the police and cab offices and places an advertisement. Mme Loisel writes to Mme Forestier claiming the clasp broke.

6. How do they replace the necklace? They replace the diamond necklace with an identical one. This costs them thirty-six thousand francs, a sum they borrow from usurers and lenders at ruinous terms, depleting M. Loisel's inheritance and forcing them into a life of extreme hardship to repay the debt.

Practice for the exam

Short Answer Questions (40-50 words)

1. How did Mme Loisel’s dissatisfaction with her life contribute to her downfall? Mme Loisel's insatiable desire for luxury and her constant dissatisfaction with her modest life blinded her to the value of what she had. Her ambition to appear wealthy at the ball led her to borrow the necklace, ultimately causing her ruin.

2. Describe the changes that occurred in Mme Loisel's life after she lost the necklace. After losing the necklace, Mme Loisel was forced into a life of extreme poverty and hard labour. She dismissed their maid, moved to an attic, learned to do harsh domestic chores, and her husband worked overtime to repay the massive debt.

3. What was the irony of the situation when Mme Loisel finally met Mme Forestier after ten years? The irony lay in the fact that after ten years of immense hardship and sacrifice to replace the lost necklace, Mme Loisel discovered that the original necklace borrowed from Mme Forestier was utterly worthless, costing only about five hundred francs.

Long Answer Questions (100-120 words)

1. Discuss the character of Matilda Loisel. Was her suffering entirely deserved? Matilda Loisel is portrayed as a woman consumed by vanity and a relentless dissatisfaction with her middle-class life. She dreams of riches and luxury, feeling entitled to a life far beyond her means. This discontent, coupled with her pride, leads her to borrow the necklace and subsequently lose it. While her suffering is a direct consequence of her actions (borrowing and losing the necklace), one could argue that her initial unhappiness stemmed from societal pressures and her own flawed perspective. Her decade of toil, however, is a severe punishment for a mistake born out of pride and a desire for social climbing.

2. How did the lost necklace lead to a complete transformation of the Loisel couple's life and character? The loss of the necklace inflicted a devastating financial and personal blow on the Loisels. They had to embark on a decade-long journey of immense debt repayment, which stripped them of their comfortable life. Mme Loisel transformed from a discontented, elegant woman into a hard, strong, and crude woman, accustomed to domestic drudgery. M. Loisel also aged prematurely, working tirelessly. This shared hardship forged them into resilient individuals, though their dreams and youthful spirit were lost.

Extract-Based Question

Extract: "She fell upon the neck of her friend, embraced her with passion, then went away with her treasure. The day of the ball arrived. Mme Loisel was a great success. She was the prettiest of all — elegant, gracious, smiling and full of joy. All the men noticed her, asked her name, and wanted to be presented. She danced with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but all this admiration, this victory so complete and sweet to her heart."

1. What does 'treasure' refer to in the extract? 'Treasure' refers to the diamond necklace that Mme Loisel borrowed from Mme Forestier.

2. How did Mme Loisel feel on the night of the ball? Mme Loisel felt extremely happy, successful, and admired on the night of the ball. She was the centre of attention and felt intoxicated with pleasure and the admiration she received.

3. What does this extract reveal about Mme Loisel's character at this point? This extract reveals Mme Loisel's vanity and her deep desire for social recognition and admiration. She is momentarily satisfied by the superficial glories of the party, completely absorbed in the "victory" of being the prettiest and most noticed.

Remember

The story highlights the dangers of envy, pride, and materialism. Focusing on superficial possessions can lead to immense hardship.

Exam-smart

An extract about Mme Loisel at the ball would test your understanding of her initial character traits, her motivations, and the contrast between her appearance and her true circumstances. You might be asked about the symbolism of the necklace or the irony of her temporary joy.