The Necklace: A Closer Look at Character
English 102
P Buss
Essay 1
In any literay work, it is absolutely essential to have characters,
whether major or minor. It is also necessary to develop these characters
through out the story. Character development gives the reader insight to the
more important meanings or lessons of the story. These lessons are usually
brought out by the events that take place within the story. Looking at Guy De
Maupassant's piece "The Necklace", we see a very clear development of the main
character Mathidle. In the story, we see a change in her attitude about life.
This change come about when she has to learn one of life's little lessons the
hard way. She and her husband are forced to live a life of hard work and
struggle because of her own selfish desires. Mathilde changes from a woman who
spends her time dreaming of all the riches and glory she doesn't have, to
realizing that she over looked all the riches she did have.
The story opens with the description of how miserable Mathilde is.
Maupassant describes her as "suffering constantly, feeling herself destined for
all delicacies and luxeries." (Pg 4) She sits dreaming of silent rooms nicely
decorated and her own private room, scented with perfume to have intimate "tete-
a-tetes" with her closest friends. Then she is awakened, only to realize that
she is in her own grim apartment. In her eyes, she lives a tortured and unfair
life. Mathidle has a husband named Losiel. H ...