Introduction
It is important to note that culture and identity are critical elements of one’s personality, which heavily shape an individual and the collective. Both “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant and “An Unknown Girl” by Moniza Alvi explore people dissatisfied with their cultures and identities with the respective emphasis on each. Both texts demonstrate individuals who built their personal and cultural identities on delusions and false understanding of the status and culture they seek, which is why one should seek objective truth and comprehension to be happy.
Cultures and Identities in “The Necklace” and “An Unknown Girl”
In the case of “The Necklace,” the story is centered around a woman whose identity does not match her aspirations and dreams of being a member of the wealthy class. The severe level of dissatisfaction and discontent is clearly demonstrated throughout the narrative. Madame Mathilde Loisel seeks to be an aristocrat, where it is stated that “she was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of artisans” (Maupassant, 1888, p. 1). In other words, she experiences a major identity crisis for not belonging to the upper class. In addition, the cultural pressure is also a facilitator of dissatisfaction with her life because such a social environment values people in accordance with their wealth rather than moral elements. In the end, her identity detached from reality and manifested in excessive pride, results in a refusal to admit the loss of the necklace, which wastes her and her husband’s ten years in poverty.
When it comes to “An Unknown Girl” by Moniza Alvi, the narrator also experiences an identity crisis primarily rooted in her cultural belonging. She is completely torn apart by her desire to be a part of both East and West. The latter is the culture to which she belongs, whereas the former is the one to which she is fascinated and attracted, making her unhappy. She states that “I am clinging to these firm peacock lines like people who cling to sides of a train” (Alvi, 2022, para. 1). The peacock lines represent the Indian or Eastern culture as well as her brief experience and submersion into this environment. Considering the fact that the henna will eventually disappear, she realizes that her interaction with the given culture will also end. Therefore, she feels discontent with her cultural identity wanting to be a part of such a cultural framework with the unknown girl.
Both literary works explore the notions of identity and culture and how impactful these forces are in controlling human behavior and wellbeing. The key difference between these works is the fact that “The Necklace” is mostly focused on identity issues, whereas “An Unknown Girl” addresses the problems related to culture. However, it is impossible to talk about one without the other because identities are essentially tied to some cultures represented in the collective. For example, it is evident that the poet idealizes the Eastern culture over her Western one on the basis of a brief interaction with the unknown girl at the bazar. One can see how such a conclusion and the resulting dissatisfaction are mostly delusional since she is unaware of the social and cultural problems of Eastern culture. She only sees the overall beauty of the peacock and her surroundings without an objective lens of observation of the true reality of being an Indian.
Similarly, the delusional pattern of observation can be observed in the main character of “The Necklace,” where she is only preoccupied with superficial aspects of the aristocracy. It is evident that the upper class does not solely operate within a framework of accumulating expensive jewelry and outfits. The rich have their own internal and external struggles, which might not be comparable to the poor, but they still exist. However, Madame Mathilde Loisel builds her identity on her delusional observation, which makes her unhappy, dissatisfied, and blind to the positive aspects of her life. Her detachment from the reality of aristocracy costs her and her husband ten years of their comfortable existence and all of their savings. In other words, the necklace was practically worthless, and the wealthy women were wise enough not to waste their resources on such a superficial item.
Therefore, both stories taught a valuable lesson about being content and pleased with what they have and where they belong without forming their personal identities and cultural identities around delusional assumptions. The latter was the culprit of both Madame Mathilde’s and the narrator’s unhappiness and unnecessary suffering. One should base his or her evaluations of their own identities and cultures on an objective understanding of the truth in regards to these important forces.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant and “An Unknown Girl” by Moniza Alvi demonstrate individuals who built their personal and cultural identities on delusions and false understanding of the status and culture they seek. This leads to their discontent and dissatisfaction with their lives. Therefore, it is important to seek objective truth and comprehension in order to be happy, which also involves introspection by valuing what they already have.
References
Alvi, M. (2022). An unknown girl. Genius.
Maupassant, G. (1888). The necklace [PDF document].