Analyze the character of Madame Loisel from the short story, "The Necklace," written by Guy de Maupassant. Analyze and describe Madame Loisel's character before the party, during the party and after losing the necklace. Be sure to use evidence from the story to support your response.
In "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, Madame Loisel is portrayed as a complex character whose attitudes and behaviors change throughout the story. Before the party, Madame Loisel is depicted as discontented and unsatisfied with her life. She believes she was born for a better life and feels trapped in her current social status. The text states, "She was unhappy because she felt she deserved something better, something finer," emphasizing her dissatisfaction and desire for material wealth.
During the party, Madame Loisel experiences a transformation. She is thrilled to attend the event but is consumed by her appearance. She borrows a beautiful necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier, to elevate her social status. At the party, she fully immerses herself in the glamour and charm, enjoying the admiration she receives. The author writes, "She danced with delight, with passion, intoxicated at the pleasure of being praised, of being popular, of being envied." This indicates that Madame Loisel is easily swayed by external validation and that her happiness and self-worth are contingent upon the approval of others.
However, after losing the necklace, Madame Loisel's character undergoes another significant change. She becomes desperate, worry-ridden, and anxious. The constant search for a replacement necklace leads her to a life of poverty and hardship. Madame Loisel becomes a hardworking woman, living in a bigoted society that does not reward merit. The text reveals, "She played her part heroically." Her resilience and determination to repay the debt by working hard demonstrate her strength and determination.
In conclusion, Madame Loisel's character evolves from a dissatisfied and envious woman to someone who understands the importance of humility and the consequences of her actions. Her experience with the necklace accentuates the central theme of the story – appearances can be deceiving, highlighting how materialistic desires often lead to unintended and unfortunate consequences.
Madame Loisel's character undergoes significant changes throughout the short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. Initially, before the party, she is portrayed as dissatisfied with her lower social status and dreams of a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle. During the party, Madame Loisel experiences a transformation, feeling as though she belongs to a higher social class. However, after losing the necklace, she becomes burdened with guilt and is forced into a life of poverty.
Before the party, Madame Loisel is presented as discontented with her life and constantly yearns for more. The narrator describes her as "unhappy all the time...because she was born into a poor family." Her beauty and charm allow her to marry a clerk in the Ministry of Education, yet she cannot overlook her modest lifestyle. The fact that she is unhappy despite a loving husband and a comfortable roof over her head reveals her dissatisfaction and her longing for material possessions and higher social status.
During the party, Madame Loisel experiences a temporary change in character. When her husband brings home an invitation to the grand ball, she is excited, but her joy is immediately marred by disappointment upon realizing she does not have a suitable dress. However, her husband offers his savings to buy her a new gown, and she borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from a friend. At the party, she finally feels accepted by the wealthy crowd and revels in the attention she receives. The transformation is evident when the narrator states, "She danced with intoxication, with passion, made drunk by pleasure, forgetting everything in the triumph of her beauty, in the glory of her success, in an intoxication of delight." Madame Loisel's character here is depicted as confident, self-assured, and basking in an illusion of the elite lifestyle she always desired.
However, after losing the necklace, Madame Loisel's character takes a drastic turn. Realizing the necklace is missing, she and her husband desperately search for it. Unable to find it, they decide to replace it with an identical one, which puts them in significant debt. From this point on, Madame Loisel undergoes a transformation into a somber, burdened, and remorseful character. She takes on multiple jobs to repay the debt and lives a life of extreme poverty for years. This is evident when the narrator states, "She washed dishes, wearing out her delicate nails and the pink flesh of her hands... She then washed dirty linen, shirts, and dishcloths, which she dried on a line." Madame Loisel's once proud and desired lifestyle has been replaced by one of hardship and sacrifice.
In conclusion, Madame Loisel's character in "The Necklace" undergoes significant development. Initially a dissatisfied woman yearning for a luxurious life, she experiences a temporary transformation during the party, feeling accepted and exuberant. However, after losing the necklace, her character shifts towards a life of guilt, poverty, and remorse. Guy de Maupassant portrays Madame Loisel as a complex character affected by her aspirations and the consequences of her actions, highlighting the theme of the story.