The Necklace Analysis By Jonathan, Virasat and Josh
Title – The Necklace Pre-predictions Expensive Item Accessory Superficiality
Plot Mathilde Loisel is unhappy with her working class life and believes she is destined for better. She and her husband get invited to a ball but she has nothing to wear. Mathilde borrows a wealthy friend - Madame Forestier’s - necklace to compliment her dress. At the party she gets a glimpse of luxury - the better life - at a ball wearing glamorous clothing. On her way home she looses the necklace in cab Works for 10 hard years to repay debt from the necklace which cost 36,000 francs Finds out Madame Forestier’s necklace was worth only 500 francs as opposed to 36,000
Setting Location : Paris, France – Glamorous Connotation Names – Mathilde, Forestier Francs – Currency Mentions famous street in Paris
Time: 19th Century France uses Euros now Lifestyle
Characterisation There are 3 main characters 1. Mathilde: .Very egotistical about herself but not her living conditions Believes because of her beauty that she was destined for better “… she felt that luxuries and soft living were her natural birthright.”
.Not satisfied with and appreciative of her husband Because she thinks that for her beauty she disserves a husband who can bring in a large salary rather than a minimum wage lifestyle “ She had no evening dresses, no jewels, nothing. And those were the only things she cared about.“\
Instead of being happy and satisfied with the dress, she became greedy and wanted an accessory to compliment it
.Gives too much power to objects Allows them to impact how she feels “She danced madly, ecstatically, drunk with pleasure, with no thought for anything, in the triumph of her beauty, in the pride of her success”
Characterisation 2. Madame Forestier Wealthy friend of Mathilde Her wealth makes Mathilde envious of her and her possessions Wealthy but friendly – not snobby or arrogant Understands that objects are simply objects When Mathilde asks if she can borrow accessories she replied without hesitation “Take what you like, my dear.”
Truly cares about others Is horrified and upset at the thought of Mathilde’s struggle to repay the debt “Oh you poor, poor thing!”
Characterisation 3. Monsieur Loisel Very optimistic and kind hearted Cares about his wife more than anything Works very hard to get the invitation to the party and can’t wait to tell his wife “I had a great difficulty in getting an inivitation”
Payed for the dress with out hesitations “Right, you shall have your four hundred francs.”
Instead of leaving his wife when she lost the necklace she helped her repay the debt and used all his savings “And borrow he did, getting a thousand here, five hundred there..”
Structure Uses normal plot overview Exposition – Mathilde is unhappy with her life Rising action – Borrows the necklace for a party Climax – Looses expensive necklace in a cab Resolution– Realizes Madame Forestier’s necklace was a fake and learns her lesson
Theme Don’t allow objects to be more significant then they should be. How we allow objects to impact our emotions and our lives How we allow objects to define ourselves
Face your problems rather than putting them off – face them head on because eventually it will take over your life You won’t have to think what could’ve happened “What would have happened if she had never lost those jewels? Who knows?”