This paper will examine the change of Madame Mathilde Loise’s character in the story The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant as she undergoes conflicts that shape her personality. Generally, most women aspire to be beautiful and polished, gorgeous and elegant, admired and enthralling. Although looks might be deceiving, it is normal for individuals to portray themselves how they want to be. Women are seen as more dishonest than males due to the fact that they use their innate charisma and attractiveness to appear attractive. Basically, people live in a denial state; nevertheless, it is essential to evaluate all potential outcomes. Character is a literary element in Maupassant’s The Necklace; Madame Mathilde Loisel has had several difficulties that have caused her to fight minor wars inside herself due to how she thinks about her social rank.
Madame Loisel is a self-centered, egocentric individual who disregards the sentiments of others and pursues her wants at any cost. The only thing that does not align with her desires is her actual life, which is not as wealthy and luxurious as she craves. Mathilde fantasizes about expensive items she cannot afford, such as “a superb diamond necklace, and her heart began to beat with uncontrolled desire,” and even desires to be loaned the items (Short Stories: The Necklace 4). Nevertheless, her spouse is an average clerk whose greatest desire is to own a gun “He turned a little pale because he had been saving that exact amount to buy a gun and treat himself to a hunting trip…” (Short Stories: The Necklace 3). Mathilde believes that her husband is unable to pursue anything other than a mundane existence as a clerk, and she views this as the primary cause of conflict in their relationship.
Mathilde is continually unsatisfied with her status in life, and she always dreams about elegance and wealth. According to Mathilde’s predicaments, she cannot attend a ball without the proper attire and jewelry, which is the problem. As such, Loisel portrays a little child who desires a doll but does not desire a typical one. As the narrative goes on, Mathilde reveals her character as spoiled, impulsive, and self-willed, and audiences can tell that she is an egotistic young woman who is self-centered. On the night out, she dances and enjoys the evening at the ball as she evades her daily life troubles while she enjoys a temporary world of fantasies.
Madame Loisel undergoes character-altering transformations as she becomes a responsible woman and she resents her past. Initially, Loisel believed she was bound to reside in a superior social category, but her current status subjected her to frustrations “the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains” provoked her resentment (Short Stories: The Necklace 1). Nevertheless, as the narrative progresses, Loisel has limited options; hence, she is compelled to live in a poor house and labor tirelessly to repay the necklace loan. This circumstance causes her to abandon her aspirations and develop into a resilient woman. For example, she began working tirelessly to pay off her debt. Thus, this indicates that Mathilde undergoes changes throughout the narrative. The woman alters her vision of life, learns to embrace her societal place, and cherishes her existence.
Therefore, self-conflict causes individuals to change their characters. The narrative’s main character, Madame Loisel, undergoes a transformation from a self-centered and dissatisfied individual to a self-reliant and hardworking individual. As a young woman, she believes her aspirations and ambitions to be the most important aspects of her existence, which must be accomplished at any cost. Nonetheless, the circumstances suggest that she needs to be a reasonable person who acts according to her societal rank. Mathilde’s willingness to assist her husband in returning the debt demonstrates that she has learned this lesson accordingly.
Work Cited
“Short Stories: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.” Eastoftheweb.com, 2018, Web.