Themes: Greed
Mathilde’s desire to live a lifestyle beyond her financial means at first makes her a jaded woman, unable to appreciate her relative comforts. Early in the story, she has the financial means to employ household servants, she isn’t required to work herself, and she enjoys a comfortable lifestyle. Even with her abundance, particularly compared to her social standing at the story’s end, she is filled with greed, “tortured” and “angry” that she lacks the luxuries other women enjoy. This anger spills over onto her husband, who is elated when he believes that an invitation to a ball will relieve his wife’s feelings of bitter discontent. Yet Mathilde’s greed overshadows even this moment, and she refuses the invitation because her clothing leaves her poorly “equipped” for such an event. When her husband sacrifices his savings to purchase the dress of her dreams, Mathilde does not even offer her thanks for his kind gesture. Moreover, when the date of the ball has nearly arrived, Mathilde again professes that she can’t attend, even with her expensive dress, because she doesn’t have the jewels to pair with the dress and believes that she therefore “shall look like distress.” After taking her husband’s suggestion to borrow some jewelry from her friend Madame Forestier, Mathilde cannot be satisfied with the initial pieces of jewelry she is shown, longing for something more stunning and even more expensive. Mathilde constantly evaluates her own wealth in comparison to those who have more than she does. She never considers the comforts and luxuries she is able to enjoy, particularly before the ball, compared to those in the lower classes. Mathilde is therefore blinded by greed, always angry at her position in life, feeling that she deserves more and that she simply hasn’t been dealt a fair hand. Her lack of appreciation for her economic standing early in the story eventually robs her of both her comforts and her beauty.
Expert Q&A
In "The Necklace," why is Mathilde envious of others' wealth and social class?
Mathilde is envious of others' wealth and social class because she feels entitled to luxuries she has never experienced. Despite her modest background, she believes she was born to enjoy delicacies and riches, leading to constant dissatisfaction and distress. Her envy is exacerbated by her friend Madame Forestier's wealth, fueling her fantasies and poor decisions that ultimately lead to her downfall.
What motivates Mathilde to incur debt to hide the necklace secret?
Mathilde is motivated by her ego and a sense of entitlement to a luxurious lifestyle, which leads her to incur debt to hide the necklace's loss. She is deeply dissatisfied with her modest life and is consumed by fantasies of wealth. Admitting the loss would force her to confront her reality and dependence on borrowed status, which her pride and vanity cannot tolerate. Thus, her actions are driven by a combination of egotism and an aversion to humiliation.
Is Mathilde in "The Necklace" by Maupassant greedy? What signs support your view?
Mathilde in "The Necklace" by Maupassant is characterized as greedy. Despite being born into the working class, she fantasizes about an upper-class lifestyle and is dissatisfied with her middle-class home, which is not as poor as she perceives. Her greed is evident when she is disappointed by her husband's gifts, such as a ball invitation and a dress. Even when offered jewelry by Madame Forestier, she expresses dissatisfaction, further highlighting her greed.
In "The Necklace," what values drove Mme Loisel's desire for jewelry and attending the ball?
Madame Loisel's desire for jewelry and attending the ball was driven by her dissatisfaction with her life and the societal pressures of her time. She yearned for the status and esteem associated with wealth, feeling inadequate without the appearance of luxury. Her longing to experience the lifestyle of the wealthy, even if just for one night, reflects her discontentment and the societal expectation for women to be ornamental to their husbands.
Does the theme of material possessions appear in "The Necklace"?
The theme of material possessions is central to "The Necklace." Mathilde, dissatisfied with her modest life, longs for luxury and believes that wealth and material items will bring her happiness. Her desire for a fancy necklace leads to her borrowing one for a ball, which she loses. To replace it, she and her husband endure years of hardship, only to later learn the original necklace was fake, highlighting the futility of her materialistic pursuits.
Why did Matilda demand a pretty gown and jewelry in "The Necklace"?
Matilda demands a pretty gown and jewelry because she is vain and materialistic, desiring to appear affluent at the ball. She is dissatisfied with her ordinary life and longs to be part of the upper class. Her demand stems from a need to impress others and avoid embarrassment, reflecting her superficial values. Ultimately, her desire to project wealth leads her to borrow a necklace, unaware it is an imitation, which she loses, causing further complications.
Prove the theme of "The Necklace" concerns the danger of attaching importance to wealth.
The theme of "The Necklace" highlights the dangers of valuing wealth and material possessions excessively. Mathilde Loisel's greed leads to her downfall, as she overlooks the simple joys in life and lets objects define her identity. Her desire to be admired for her appearance results in borrowing a seemingly valuable necklace, which turns out to be fake. Her obsession with outward appearances leads to lifelong hardship, illustrating the futility of attaching importance to superficial wealth.
What traits make Madame Loisel seem superficial or materialistic at the start of "The Necklace"?
In "The Necklace," Mathilde Loisel's affinity for luxuries and desire for diamonds, clothes, and anything expensive reveals her superficial, materialistic personality. She is entitled and believes she deserves to experience a privileged, aristocratic lifestyle. Mathilde is ungrateful, does not appreciate her husband, and is not content with her humble life. She constantly daydreams about rich objects and living in a palatial estate. Her financial situation depresses her, and she can think of nothing but having a luxurious life.
Examples of Madame Loisel's greed and its consequences in "The Necklace."
Madame Loisel's greed is evident when she borrows a necklace to appear wealthy at a party, leading to severe consequences. She loses the necklace and replaces it with a costly one, resulting in years of hardship and debt, only to discover later that the original necklace was a fake.
Mathilde Loisel's Deserved Retribution in "The Necklace"
Mathilde Loisel's deserved retribution in "The Necklace" is her loss of beauty and wealth due to her vanity and dishonesty. After borrowing and losing a necklace, she and her husband endure years of poverty to replace it, only to discover it was a fake. This illustrates the consequences of her greed and pride.
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