Introduction:
The whole story of The Necklace revolves around three main characters and their relationship.
Setting:
Main characters:
1.Madame Mathilde Loisel
2. Monsieur Loisel
3. Madame Forestier
4. Monsieur Georges Ramponneau (Minister of Public Instruction)
Sequence/Summary of events
1. Mathilde is not happy with her life.
2. Monsieur Loisel receives an invitation to the ball, held by the
Minister of Public Instruction.
3. Mathilde does not want to go to the ball without a suitable
gown
4. Loisel sacrifices his interest for Mathilde to get a gown.
5. Mathilde needs jewellery to go with the gown.
6. She borrows a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier.
7. She enjoys herself at the ball and makes a great impression on
the people there.
8. She loses the necklace.
9. Loisel looks for the necklace without any success.
10. They purchase a replacement necklace and end up with a huge
debt.
11. They do not tell Madame Forestier the truth.
12. They work hard for 10 years to repay the debt and have aged
terribly in the process of doing so.
13. Mathilde meets Madame Forestier one day and tells her what
has actually happened.
14. Madame Forestier reveals that the lost necklace is only an
imitation.
Character Analysis.
1. Madame Mathilde Loisel
In the beginning
· Pretty, charming, young
* not very resourceful
· Unsympathetic
* full of self pity
· foolish
* inconsiderate/selfish
· impatient
* ungrateful/unpleasant
· materialistic
* thinks highly of herself
· self-centered
At the end
· aware of position/status in life
· low self-centered
· gains confidence
· coarse
· speak loudly
· co-operative
2. Monsieur Loisel
· compassionate
* thinks fast/suggest ideas
· accommodating
* initiates actions
· patient
* persistent
· loving
* optimistic
· considerate/reasonable
* accountable
· caring
* supportive
· sacrificial
* diligent
· responsible
* unselfish
· practical
* rather soft/too gentle
3. Madame Forestier
· young
· glamorous
· wealthy
· helpful
· pretentious
Themes:
1. Illusion vs. Reality
Mathide Loisel daydreams of having wealth she is unable to
accept the fact that she has to live as an average person in
society. The reality of what hardship in life is about is revealed
after the loss of the necklace. The misfortune, her loss of youth
and beauty make her grow into a responsible human being.
2. Wealth vs. Poverty
3. Deception vs. Truth
4. Pride goes before fall
The Loisels do not admit the truth about the loss necklace to
Madame Forestier because of pride. Because of this, they end
up in a huge debt.
5. Love is blind
Monsieur Loisel loves his wife so much that he goes all out to
Please her sacrifices his own needs and interest to make her
happy and works hard to make ends meet. He never treats
Mathilde badly.