Emotional State of The Main Character in The Necklace Short Story

Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace” is about a woman who longs for another life that seems a world away. She has a loving husband and a comfortable home but does not appreciate what she has because of her desire to be wealthy. The irony is that in an attempt to gain access to this world she weaves a web of destruction that takes her to a life much worse than what she already has. Maupassant’s “The Necklace” portrays how envy, greed, and dishonesty leads to destruction in the life of the main character Mathilde Loisel.

Envy is the first element that leads to destruction in the life of Mathilde Loisel. She is in constant conflict with what she believes she is entitled to and what she already has. Mathilde was born into a modest family that did not offer her the social status that she believed she was destined to be a part of. Although she was a beautiful and charming woman capable of marrying well above her, she marries a man within her own social class. She was a materialistic woman and therefore her choice of husband has left her miserable and longing for more. She spent her days dreaming about an elaborate home, elegant jewelry, and lavish dresses. She was envious of the lifestyle that comes with a higher rank of social class. “She had no clothes, no jewels, nothing. And these were the only things she loved; she felt that she was made for them” (De Maupassant). Mathilde is unable to see what is already present in her life because of her desire for these material items. Her husband is a grateful man satisfied with simple meals such as Scotch broth. He provides a modest home and security for the two of them. It is her envy of this other life that leads her to greed and dishonesty.

The author describes Mahtilde’s character as greedy and greed is another element of this short story that leads to the destruction of Mahtilde’s life. When her husband is invited to a prestige party, he believes that his wife will be excited. However, she is not satisfied but is upset that she does not have a dress that she finds suitable for the event. She looks at her husband and asks him "And what do you wish me to put on my back (De Maupassant)?" Her husband gives her money that he had saved for a gun, only to find her upset that she does not have satisfactory jewelry for the occasion. It is greed that motivates Mahtilde to borrow a necklace from her rich friend Madame Forestier. She chooses an elaborate piece of jewelry that she perceives as expensive. After an evening of living an illusion of her dream, she discovers that she has lost the necklace. Her greed has left her and her husband responsible for a piece of jewelry that they cannot afford to replace. This realization leads to the third element of destruction.

Dishonesty is the third element that contributes to the destruction of the life of Mahtilde. After Mahtilde spends a marvelous evening at the party; she discovers that she has lost the necklace. Her husband creates a plan to replace the necklace and she goes along with the plan. She dishonestly returns the replacement necklace without telling her friend that it is not the original necklace. Mahtilde and her husband work themselves old before their time to pay back the debt required to replace the necklace. In an ironic twist, if she had only been honest about her mistake she would have realized that Madame Loisel’s necklace was an imitation that was worth a fraction of what she paid for the replacement.

Envy, greed, and dishonesty are all elements used by this author to portray the downfall of a woman who desperately longs for a life different than her own. Mahtilde had her beauty, a loving husband and financial comfort. She may not have been rich but she certainly was not poor. Mahtilde’s inability to love what was already present in her life led to a life that was far worse. Guy de Maupassant’s message in “The Necklace” is that a person should appreciate what they have and not covet what other people have and that coveting creates envy, greed, and dishonesty that lead to destruction. Mahtilde was so caught up in dreaming of another life, she did not take the time to look around her and see that she already had what most people would see as wealth, love and security.