“The Necklace” is a multilayered short story with a famous twist ending, which H.E. Bates in 1941 called the “supreme tour de force of surprise endings.” The technique is also known as an “O. Henry’s ending” or a “whip-crack,” meaning that the final lines turn the text’s interpretation on its head and completely subvert it.
In this article, our team will analyze Maupassant’s story and explain what makes it so memorable:
- We will start by discussing the setting and genre of “The Necklace.”
- Next, you will learn how the author used irony, alliteration, and personification and how these literary devices enhance the narrative.
- In the end, you will find bonus tips on writing a critical analysis of “The Necklace.”
We’ve also included quotes from the story to help you with its interpretation.
💎 Interpretation of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
“The Necklace” is a story about vanity, status, and ways in which luxurious appearance can be deceiving. In Mathilde’s world, everyone is judged based on their social class. Status means opportunities and acceptance, so it’s not surprising that the story’s protagonist aspired to it.
Unfortunately, just like Mathilde, not everyone is born rich or has a chance to join a higher society. This gap between wishes and reality often makes people miserable, so they turn to status symbols to bring themselves closer to the desired lifestyle. In Mathilde’s case, it was the infamous borrowed necklace that appeared expensive but was, in fact, a paste.
The most striking aspect of Maupassant’s story is that no one realized the necklace was fake. It became the perfect status symbol for Mathilde, who, just like the false diamonds, pretended to be someone she wasn’t. The irony is that the same object that was supposed to make her happy eventually ruined her life, leaving her worse off than before.
🍸 The Necklace Setting Analyzed
The story takes place in late 19th-century Paris, in a period known as the Belle Époque. Madame Loisel is the child of her generation, so it’s essential to judge her actions in the context of “The Necklace” setting.
The Belle Époque was a time of technological, cultural, and economic prosperity. Paris was rapidly turning into an industrial colossus with transport infrastructure, tourism, new industries, and a new social class of bourgeoisie.
As people became wealthier, their attention shifted from surviving hunger to consumerism – the idea that new things make you happier. Mathilde got into the trap of this idea, which is still relevant today.
📚 What Genre Is The Necklace?
There are three dominating opinions on the question “What is the genre of “The Necklace.”
- Realism. Guy de Maupassant drew his passion for realism from his prominent teacher, Gustave Flaubert. Both writers focused on depicting ordinary (often working-class) people and their everyday lives without romanticizing them. Just like that, “The Necklace” tells a naturalistic story with an emphasis on the class struggle.
- Mystery. In his research, Jason Pierce, Ph.D., has found the signs of mystery in “The Necklace.” According to him, the plot twist and disguised author’s intention till the very end is typical of the style used in mystery stories.
- Morality tale. “The Necklace” has a prominent moral about the dangers of vanity and a prominent motif of deceptive appearances. So, the story can be called a fable or morality tale.
🎭 The Necklace Irony: Quotes & Examples
Each part of “The Necklace” is filled with irony, especially the conclusion. Below, we will look at the best examples and quotes showing irony in “The Necklace.”
What Type of Irony Is Used in The Necklace?
There is more than one type of irony in the story. In fact, it features at least 3 types of it:
- Situational irony, which makes things turn out starkly different from what was expected.
- Dramatic irony, which emerges when the readers know something the protagonist is ignorant about.
- Verbal irony, which happens when a character says one thing while meaning the opposite.
Situational Irony in The Necklace
Situational irony is predominant in the story. In particular, it’s directly tied to the central twist of the borrowed necklace being fake:
“Oh, my poor Mathilde! Why, my necklace was paste! It was worth at most only five hundred francs!”
The Necklace, Madame Forestier
Mathilde’s life before the debt was relatively well-to-do. She had money to afford a maid and cover basic needs. The irony is that she overlooked all that in the chase for symbols of luxury.
She had no gowns, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that. She felt made for that.
The Necklace, Narrator
Over the ten years of poverty, Mathilde lost her most significant asset: beauty. It becomes more ironic when you realize that she needed jewelry to enhance her beauty in the first place. She craved social status, but her attempts to gain it worsened her situation.
She would have given anything to be popular, envied, attractive, and in demand.
The Necklace, Narrator
How strange and changeful is life! How small a thing is needed to make or ruin us!
The Necklace, Narrator
Dramatic Irony in The Necklace
A good example of this literary device is when Mathilde borrows the necklace. An attentive reader would immediately doubt the authenticity of the diamonds, considering how easily Madame Forestier agreed to lend the piece.
“Could I borrow that, just that and nothing else?”
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel and Madame Forestier
“Why, of course.”
Another dramatic irony example is Mathilde’s success at the ball. The way it’s described makes it too good to be true, simultaneously building up tension that something must go wrong.
Mme. Loisel was a sensation. She was the prettiest one there, fashionable, gracious, smiling, and wild with joy. All the men turned to look at her, asked who she was, begged to be introduced. All the Cabinet officials wanted to waltz with her. The minister took notice of her.
The Necklace, Narrator
Verbal Irony in The Necklace
One of the best examples of verbal irony can be found in Mathilde’s reaction to receiving an invitation to the party:
“Give the card to some friend at the office whose wife can dress better than I can.”
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel
Here, she means the opposite of what she says. That’s verbal irony, used by her to convince her husband to give her money for a dress.
“There’s nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich.”
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel
Mathilde says it while already wearing a fancy dress. It’s hardly possible that she actually looked poor – she likely wanted to get more accessories and jewelry to enhance her appearance even further.
💡 Alliteration in The Necklace
Alliteration occurs when several words in a row start with the same letter, creating an intense audial effect or rhythm. Its primary purpose is to conjure a vivid mental image in the reader’s mind via sounds.
For example:
- The repetition of the “s” sound in the phrase “she suffered ceaselessly” feels like hissing, long and irritating. This device allows the reader to dive into Mathilde’s emotional state.
- The “d” sound in “dreadful debt” sounds like teeth chattering from fear.
Keep in mind that “The Necklace” was initially written in French, and even though alliteration is preserved in most translations, it’s not the same as in the original.
🔍 Examples of Personification in The Necklace
Personification in literary works occurs when non-living objects, animals, or ideas are endowed with human characteristics. Writers use it to make descriptions more vivid and relatable by metaphorically bringing inanimate things to life.
“The Necklace” starts with a sentence that uses personification:
She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of artisans.
The Necklace, Narrator
Here, fate is presented as a sentient thing that failed Mathilde personally. Of course, fate can’t blunder anyone because it is an abstract idea.
Another curious example is Mathilde’s house having “mean walls.” In the protagonist’s eyes, even the objects surrounding her are involved in her suffering, as if deliberately preventing her from being happy.
✍️ The Necklace Critical Analysis Writing Tips
Critical analysis is an in-depth examination of a piece written by someone else, such as a short story. If you get assigned to critically analyze “The Necklace,” remember that the point of such a task is to interpret the text by breaking it into parts and studying them individually. Essentially, it’s more about your interpretation than the author’s intention, so it’s okay to be subjective.
Follow the steps below and answer our prompt questions to conduct your critical analysis of “The Necklace”:
- Observe. Who are the main characters, and what motivates them? What conflicts do they face?
- Analyze. How does the broader context of the Belle Époque influence the events and the characters’ actions?
- Infer. What themes does Maupassant explore in his story?
- Evaluate. What literary devices does the author use to deliver these ideas?
- Resolve. What is the story’s overall impact? How did the twist ending affect your understanding of the events?
Check out our “The Necklace” topics list for more ideas on your critical analysis.
We hope you enjoyed reading this study guide and got a better appreciation of the short story! If you have more questions about “The Necklace,” feel free to read our Q&A section.