In “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, the necklace is more than just a piece of jewelry, it becomes a powerful symbol of Mathilde’s desires and the consequences of those desires. Maupassant’s approach to describing the necklace reflects what Raymond Carver talks about: how ordinary objects, written about with care and precision, can take on deeper emotional and symbolic meaning.
At first, the necklace is described as “a Venetian cross, gold and gems, of admirable workmanship.” The language is simple and clear, yet it conveys the beauty and allure of the necklace in a way that feels captivating to Mathilde. To her, it is not just jewelry, it is the key to the life she has always dreamed of, a life of wealth, beauty, and admiration. For one night, wearing it makes her feel as though she belongs in that world.
When the necklace is lost, its meaning shifts entirely. It becomes a symbol of the heavy cost of Mathilde’s aspirations. The years of hard work and sacrifice to repay the debt reflect the cruel irony of her pursuit of status. What seemed to offer her everything ends up taking it all away.
Maupassant, like Carver, shows how everyday objects can hold immense power through precise and careful writing. The necklace is not just an accessory, it represents Mathilde’s dreams, her choices, and the devastating consequences that follow, all brought to life through vivid and simple language.
2 thoughts on “Elad Tisch – Week 13 Discussion”
Hey Elad,
Amazing work on your discussion post this week. I love that you chose the necklace as your story of focus for this discussion post seeing as it is one of my favorite stories that we have read so far. The symbolism in the necklace is clear but powerful. Which makes it the perfect example of common place but precise language. As much as the necklace is an ordinary, everyday object, the meaning behind it is deep as it frames the plot of the story from the beginning until the very end. Your discussion post helped me to appreciate this fact even more. Thank you!
Elad, this week the prompt is focused on the author’s style rather than on the content of the story or its themes. I agree that “The Necklace” provides good examples of the precise and commonplace language DeMaupassant refers to in his article, but have you provided the best examples of this pared down language?