The Third Republic

After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and the fall of Emperor Napoleon III, the remnants of the French government reformed as a republic. The peace agreement with Germany came at a high price; France paid a five billion franc indemnity and ceded valuable territory along the eastern border. While the Prussian victory paved the way for the modern German state, France's influence in European affairs diminished. Civil war broke out in Paris between Republicans and Monarchists, threatening to destabilize the French state. However, a peaceful resolution was eventually achieved. By 1879, following the resignation of its Monarchist president, the Third Republic was firmly established, allowing France to focus on international matters. In the 1880s, France reasserted itself as a major geopolitical player, creating protectorates in China and Southeast Asia and reestablishing control over parts of Africa. Although the French mood was somber after their 1871 defeat by the Prussians, a decade later the nation was more optimistic, despite lingering internal conflicts.

The Ministry of Education

Most English translations of "The Necklace'' state that Monsieur Loisel is a civil servant under the Minister of Education, but this is not entirely accurate. The French term is "ministre de l'Instruction publique," or Minister of Public Instruction. In the early 1880s, there was significant debate regarding the relationship between religion and education. Predominantly Catholic France had long depended on parochial education, especially at the primary level. However, as Republicans gained power, laws enforcing the separation of church and state were more strictly applied. Unauthorized religious groups, like the Jesuits, were prohibited from providing instruction, leading to considerable discord. In 1881, free, non-religious elementary education was established by law and made compulsory. Notably, like Monsieur Loisel, Maupassant worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Education from 1878 to 1880.

Literary Movements

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, French literature was heavily influenced by two major movements: realism and naturalism. Before 1850, French novels—crafted by renowned authors such as Victor Hugo, Honore de Balzac, and Alexandre Dumas—were often highly imaginative and romantic, featuring admirable protagonists, intense conflicts, and thrilling scenes. After the 1848 uprising, however, a new wave of French writers, spearheaded by Gustave Flaubert, began advocating for a different style of fiction. This new approach focused on the realistic portrayal of the human condition rather than romanticized stories of heroes and villains. These realists were soon accompanied by the naturalists, a group led by Emile Zola, who depicted civilization as a fragile layer barely masking humanity's natural (and sometimes animalistic) instincts. It was within this literary landscape that Maupassant launched his writing career. Many of his works, including "The Necklace," reflect his alignment with both the realist and naturalist movements. In keeping with realist principles, his characters are not mere stereotypes but individuals with understandable, if not always agreeable, motives. In the naturalist tradition, Maupassant’s stories often highlight societal shortcomings, illustrating that human instincts do not always align with social values.

Maupassant never married, and after reading this story, one might surmise that part of the reason could be his reluctance to shoulder the responsibility of supporting a wife and family on the modest salary of a government clerk for ten years. Even after his writing brought him wealth, Maupassant remained unmarried. Perhaps he was aware of his syphilis or understood he was ill-suited for married life. He wrote with an obsessive fervor and indulged in both athletic and carnal excesses. He likely would not have made a good husband. In contrast, the character Monsieur Loisel from this story would have been a far better spouse. Loisel schemed to get an invitation to please his wife, sacrificed his entertainment savings for her dress, searched tirelessly for the lost necklace, spent his inheritance, and took on a huge debt to replace the jewelry. He then worked three jobs for ten years to pay off the loans.

The author never explicitly tells the audience that Loisel is a good, honest man and a devoted husband. The reader understands this through his actions.

Maupassant goes to great lengths to describe Madame Loisel's experiences: as a discontented young wife of modest means, as a social butterfly for one night, and as a frugal household drudge. He even notes her simple, proud joy when the debt is finally repaid.

Monsieur Loisel's efforts are summarized in three succinct sentences:

Every month it was necessary to renew some notes, thus obtaining time, and to pay others.
The husband worked evenings, putting the books of some merchants in order, and nights he often did copying at five sous a page.
And this life lasted for ten years.

This statement is particularly poignant when one recalls that Maupassant himself spent ten years living in poverty as a government clerk, with only three of those years in a better position at the Department of Education. The little Breton he portrays as initially humorous and then as a serious, desperate worker is a reflection of himself. While Maupassant may not have experienced "the horrible life of necessity" that the Loisels endured, he certainly understood their modest circumstances at the story's beginning. Though he did not keep books or do nighttime copying, Maupassant toiled at his literary craft.

It is particularly significant that Maupassant does not narrate the story from the perspective one might expect, given his own life experiences. Typically, a writer would choose a viewpoint similar to their own. For instance, in his novel A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess recounts a terrifying home invasion, assault, and rape—events that Burgess and his wife actually experienced—from the perspective of the attacker. In contrast, in "The Necklace," Maupassant tells the story from the wife's point of view. This is where Maupassant's talent truly shines.

The wife's efforts are just as important as her husband's, and her perspective is equally "valid" and "real." A less skilled writer might have chosen the husband's viewpoint, showing tolerance for his wife's selfishness. Alternatively, a writer from a more affluent background might have told the story from Madame Forestier's perspective, excusing her friend's envy. Both approaches would imply that these were the primary perspectives that mattered. By writing from Madame Loisel's viewpoint as she discovers pride and joy in her honest labor, Maupassant affirms two things to the reader: first, that such individuals exist across all social classes—women with deep desires and ambitions; and second, that their lives are significant and deserve attention in art and literature.

This is a deeply feminist and humanist story, supporting both the working classes and women.

Maupassant described his work by saying, "We have but one objective: Man and Life, which must be interpreted artistically."

1880s: During the 1880s, as a republican government took shape following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, France embarked on a period of expansionism. This imperialistic drive was partly motivated by a desire to reclaim the national pride lost during the war. At the same time, a distorted interpretation of social Darwinism gained traction among many Europeans, leading them to believe they were inherently superior to "lesser" races and thus destined to rule over them.

1998: French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Alain Juppe aimed to cut government spending and reduce taxes. Chirac's 1995 presidential victory was partly due to his pledge to address the wealth gap in France. However, within two years, increasing labor unrest revealed the public's growing dissatisfaction with his policies.

1880s: Loisel tries various methods to repay the debt for the lost necklace. He borrows money from usurers, accumulating substantial debts. Usury, the practice of charging excessively high interest rates, has been ethically debated since the sixteenth century yet remains widespread in Europe.

1990s: In the United States, borrowers are shielded from exorbitant interest rates by various state and federal laws. Despite these protections, credit card debt reaches unprecedented levels as many consumers rely on credit and pay high interest rates. This results in millions of people remaining in debt for extended periods.