The themes in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant can be interpreted in countless ways. For example, some researchers analyze the short story through the lens of Marxism, connecting its central conflict to capitalist values. The main character, Mathilde, is fascinated by the upper class and sees her own modest lifestyle as inferior. The divide between the classes makes her unhappy and eventually leads to her demise.
In this article, we will discuss the central themes of “The Necklace”:
- Reality vs. illusion
- Greed
- Beauty
- Suffering
We will provide different interpretations of each theme with additional quotes. At the end of the article, you will find examples of theme statements related to the story.
❓ What Is the Theme of The Necklace?
There is more than one main theme in “The Necklace.” We are going to focus on the central four:
- Reality vs. illusion
While illusions may seem appealing, they never lead to true happiness. - Greed
Greed is destructive and insatiable in nature. It caused Mathilde to constantly want more, leading to negative consequences. - Beauty
Beauty has an intrinsic connection to a person’s wealth. Even a single expensive necklace does wonders for the protagonist’s appearance. - Suffering
Suffering in the story has a positive function, helping Mathilde build emotional strength and become more grounded.
✨ Reality and Illusion Themes in The Necklace
Mathilde believes she deserves the pleasures of the social class to which she doesn’t belong. She spends her days fantasizing about a better life. When her husband gets an invitation to a lavish party, she sees an opportunity to turn her dream into reality, albeit for a short time.
The ball becomes the best moment of her life since her appearance deceives all present. The borrowed necklace created an illusion of wealth for Mathilde and those who admired her. Nobody noticed the fakeness of the diamonds and, by extension, the artificiality of Mathilde’s appearance. Moreover, nobody spots the difference when the Loisels substitute the original fake necklace with a new one.
The necklace in the story can be called a simulacrum—a symbol of wealth mistaken for the real thing. This suggests that the value of an object is illusory since it depends on how people perceive it and which emotions they associate with it.
Reality vs. Illusion Quotes from The Necklace
She suffered because of the poorness of her house as she looked at the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains.
The Necklace, Narrator
She dreamed of vast living rooms furnished in rare old silks, elegant furniture loaded with priceless ornaments, and inviting smaller rooms, perfumed, made for afternoon chats with close friends – famous, sought after men, who all women envy and desire.
The Necklace, Narrator
Madame Loisel looked old now. She had become strong, hard and rough like all women of impoverished households.
The Necklace, Narrator
She sat down near the window and thought of that evening at the ball so long ago, when she had been so beautiful and so admired.
The Necklace, Narrator
🤑 The Necklace Theme of Greed
The theme of greed in “The Necklace” has ironic undertones. Mathilde seems to have everything she needs for a comfortable life, yet she suffers and yearns for more. She is envious not just of people’s wealth: more than the money, she wants the admiration and luxury she thinks other people enjoy.
In the moment of her triumph at the party, she relishes the lavish atmosphere and the attention of men, including the minister. However, once she and her husband become impoverished, it becomes evident that her former middle-class lifestyle used to be more than satisfactory. Mathilde can now only recall the party as her most cherished memory.
Greed becomes the leading cause of the protagonist’s downfall. In an attempt to appear wealthy and be admired, she borrows the necklace that costs the Loisels their comfortable lifestyle.
Quotes from The Necklace That Show Greed
She wanted so much to charm, to be envied, to be desired and sought after.
The Necklace, Narrator
I will look cheap. I would almost rather not go to the party.
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel
There is nothing more humiliating than looking poor in the middle of a lot of rich women.
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel
Suddenly she discovered […] a superb diamond necklace, and her heart began to beat with uncontrolled desire.
The Necklace, Narrator
👗 The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant: Theme of Beauty
In late 19th century France, beauty was seen as women’s greatest virtue. At the beginning of “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant brings this up by saying that beauty is more important for a woman than her birth and family. Indeed, Mathilde puts more value on her appearance than on anything else in the world.
It’s easy to ascribe the main character’s aspirations to greed and shallowness, but it’s also important to consider the influence of the culture in which she lived. From this perspective, Mathilde is a tragic character who is a victim of patriarchal values.
In The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women, it’s stated that beauty places an enormous burden on women, making them compete with each other and ultimately affirming the dominance of men. Madame Loisel needed an expensive dress and jewelry to become even more beautiful in the eyes of others. But the price she has to pay for her competition with other women for men’s attention is too high. After ten years of severe hardship and toil, she loses her principal “currency”: her beauty.
The Necklace Quotes about Beauty
Women don’t belong to a caste or class; their beauty, grace, and natural charm take the place of birth and family.
The Necklace, Narrator
She was prettier than all the other women, elegant, gracious, smiling, and full of joy. […] All the cabinet officials wanted to waltz with her. The minister noticed her.
The Necklace, Narrator
She danced wildly […], forgetting everything in the triumph of her beauty.
The Necklace, Narrator
It was Madame Forestier, still young, still beautiful, still charming.
The Necklace, Narrator
💔 Suffering as a Theme of The Necklace
Mathilde suffers throughout the short story:
- Initially, she “suffered endlessly” due to the discrepancy between what she wanted and what she had.
- In the end, she suffers because of poverty, although this time, her suffering is more “heroic” than before. Readers can assume that while there’s no happy ending for the protagonist, at least she found peace of heart.
Interestingly, Mathilde’s unhappiness can also be caused by her being a woman in a patriarchal society. Here’s why:
Since her entire existence was limited to being a beautiful wife to her husband, she couldn’t possibly know much about other things that might make her happy. Her initial suffering is likely caused by boredom and a lack of any real meaning in life. This may explain why, once she started doing all the housework, she stopped living in dreams and became genuinely hardworking.
As for Monsieur Loisel, he suffers together with Mathilde as they repay the debt. He works three jobs and shares his wife’s hardship, proving his love and care.
Quotes from The Necklace about Suffering
She suffered because of the poorness of her house as she looked at the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains.
The Necklace, Narrator
She had a rich friend […], whom she no longer wanted to visit because she suffered so much when she came home.
The Necklace, Narrator
From then on, Madame Loisel knew the horrible life of the very poor. But she played her part heroically.
The Necklace, Narrator
I have had some hard times since I last saw you, and many miseries … and all because of you!
The Necklace, Mathilde Loisel
📝 Theme Statement for The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant: Examples
A theme statement is a sentence explaining what the author intends to demonstrate, change, or teach the readers about the text’s topic.
If you need to write a theme statement for “The Necklace,” you may choose any of the themes we’ve discussed above and try to think about the author’s perspective on them. We also recommend taking historical context into account since almost every theme of “The Necklace” can be tied directly to the realities of the Belle Époque.
Here are examples of theme statements you can use as inspiration:
- The pursuit of status fueled by greed can lead to a life of hardship.
- The desire for material possessions ultimately results in disillusionment.
- The conventional notion of beauty fails to offer women a fulfilling life.
- The quest for outward beauty and riches can lead to a life of hardship and regret.
- A desire for outward appearances and material wealth often results in personal destruction.
- Pride and envy can cloud a person’s judgment and prompt them to make regrettable decisions.
Check out our list of “The Necklace” essay topics to find even more inspiration for your paper! And if you want to learn more interesting facts about the story, read our expert Q&A.