The reading I wanted to focus on which entertained me the most was The Necklace. I had to review the date this piece was written and published because I was intrigued by the fact that it was plainly stated that women didn’t really need anything more than being pretty to obtain a higher social rank. I was intrigued by the fact that it states a woman from the poorest family could be of the same social class as a socialite because she would be pretty enough to allure a well-off man. I think this way of thinking still exists and sadly has become a societal norm [insert Instagram models obtaining fame and money for taking pretty pictures].
I was surprised that Mathilde worked hard to right her wrong. From reading, Mathilde did not come across as the type to want to work hard or make sacrifices. In afterthought, perhaps I misjudged her misery of poverty, with laziness. In reading how she lamented about her poverty, her ungratefulness at her husband’s ability to get an invite to the ball and then seeming to find reason after reason to emphasize her misery at her poverty, I was very surprised that she was agreeable to dismissing their servant and she pulling her weight.
On that note, I was puzzled at their social class and how they lived. When the couple were able to locate a necklace similar to replace the lost one, we find out there is 18,000 francs available. They also had a servant on staff. If this was obtainable and they are able to pay a servant, then why is Mathilde so miserable? This puzzled me initially, but again, another afterthought, perhaps Loisel was keeping what was inherited from his father for a rainy day. It was also mentioned that he was saving his own money for a gun, so perhaps he was a hard worker and realized the value of hard work.
I wasn’t too surprised that the necklace was not real. I understand having a good friend, but I would never loan a very expensive piece of jewelry to a friend – I don’t think I’d even let a sibling borrow something of such value. I also thought it was ironic, this woman who was so miserable in “poverty” and not being married off well, had to really feel what poverty was when she had to work her way out of the debt that she caused. How ironic, lol.
One thought on “Tracey Mainer – Week 9”
Tracey, I like the part about what puzzles you. That has always struck me too. Mme. Loisel is not poor. She is middle-class. She has someone who helps with the housework. Ironically, her vanity and pride lead to her living in actual poverty. But being comfortable is not comfortable for her; she is always longing to be rich. It puzzles me that she doesn’t seem to miss her middle-class life after she is truly poor.