Similarities Between The Scarlet Ibis And The Necklace

A great story is a story that keeps the reader glued to the pages. The elements of literature that make a great story are a deep plot, relatable characters, and a good ending. If the story has a connection with the reader, the reader will want to keep on reading. There are many similarities and differences between the selection from "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant and "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurt; however, "The Necklace" is the story that deserves to be called "great."

The way the two stories were written, it leads to them having similarities between them. Two such similarities are the main characters being are not satisfied with what they have, and they value their pride over anything. First, the first element is the characters

not been satisfied with what they have. "The Necklace" it states, "She dressed plainly because she could not afford fine clothes, but was as unhappy as a woman who has come down in the world; for women have no family rank or social class...

She grieved incessantly, feeling that she had been born for all the little niceties and luxuries of living. She grieved over the shabbiness of her apartment, the dinginess of the walls, the worn-out appearance of the chairs, the ugliness of the draperies" (Maupassant). In other words, the main character [Madame Loisel], is ashamed of her way of life, she believes that she was born for luxuries of the world. This illustrates the idea Mme. Loisel only values materials like jewelry, clothes, and luxuries. As a result, this impacts the story by showing the reader that Mme.Loisel has no morals and is materialistic. This also shows Mme. Loisel's true colors. This element makes the story good by making the reader want Mme.Loisel to have a bad future. In "The Scarlet Ibis it states, "When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk, so I set out to teach him. We were down in Old Woman Swamp and it was spring and the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers hung everywhere like a mournful song. 'I’m going to teach you to walk, Doodle,' I said" (Hurst). In other words, the narrator was embarrassed by Doddle's inability to walk to he

set out to teach him how to walk. This emphasizes the fact the narrator is selfish and only does what is best for him. This impacts the story by showing us that the main character is embarrassed by Doodle, and when he showed him how to walk it was an act of selfishness rather than an act of sympathy. This element makes the story good by deepening the plot and emphasizing a creative ending. Second of all, the second similarity the two stories have in common is valuing pride over anything. In "The Necklace" it states, "They found, in a shop in Palais Royal, a string of diamonds which seemed exactly like the one they were seeking. It was priced at forty-thousand if the lost one was found before the end of February" (Maupassant). To put it differently, after losing the original necklace M. and Mme. Loisel went to lock for a replacement. They would go into debt, so Mme. Forestier would not notice her necklace been missing. This illustrates the idea that Mme. Loisel values pride over debt. This impacts the story by showing the reader that Mme. Loisel will go to great lengths to keep her worthy image alive. This element makes the story good by making the reader able to connect with the story. In "The Scarlet Ibis" it states, "The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught13 was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us" (Hurst). To put it differently, when Doodle was pushed to his limits and fell, the cruelty within the narrator awakened. As a result, the reader understands that the narrator prides himself with trying to have the perfect family by letting Doodle suffer a slow death. This impacts the story by showing the reader that there is cruelty within the narrator that will make him turn his back on his own family. This element makes the story good by creating a plot twist that the reader would not predict. The two-main similarities between "The Necklace" and "The Scarlet Ibis" are that the main characters don't value what they have and that the characters value pride over anything. On the other hand, there are vast differences between the stories.

Although these stories have many similarities that makes them great, each story has something the other doesn't. Such as the ending in "The Necklace" and the use of foreshadowing in "The Scarlet Ibis." In "The Necklace" it states, "She went toward her. 'Hello, Jeanne.' The other, not recognizing her, showed astonishment as being spoken to so familiarly by this common person. She stammered. 'But … madame . . . I don't recognize . . . You must be mistaken.' 'No, I'm Mathilde Loisel.' Her friend gave a cry, 'Oh, my poor Mathilde, how you've changed!' 'Yes, I've had a hard time since last seeing you. And plenty of misfortunes- and all on account of you!' 'Of me . . . How do you mean?' 'Do you remember that diamond necklace you loaned me to wear to the dance at the Ministry?' 'Yes, but what about it?' 'Well, I lost it.' … Oh, my poor Mathilde. But mine was only a paste. Why, at most it was worth only five hundred francs!' " (Maupassant). To put it differently, Mme. Loisel decides to go over and talk to Mme. Forestier about the diamond necklace, at the end of the conversation Mme. Loisel learns that Mme. Forestier's original necklace was just a fake. As a result, Mme. Loisel got what she deserved, valuing her pride over telling the truth when it is needed. Because of the ending, this story can be described as great due to the irony within its ending and the connection between the story and the reader. In "The Scarlet Ibis" there are many uses of foreshadowing one such example is, "They named him William Armstrong, which was like tying a big tail on a small kite. Such a name sounds good only on a tombstone" (Hurst). In other words, Doodle's first name was William Armstrong before it was changed to Doodle. This depicts the idea that Doodle may suffer a deathly faith. As a result, this story can be considered great because it has a good ending and a deep plot. To wrap it all up, both stories are great stories the ending made "The Necklace" a great story; on the other hand, the foreshadowing made "The Scarlet Ibis" a great story.

A great story is a story that keeps the reader glued to the pages.

"The Necklace" should be considered the greater story out of the two since, it has a deeper connection with the reader and its ending is better overall. For the ending it states, "Mme. Forestier, quite overcome, clasped her by the hands. 'Oh, my poor Mathilde. But mine was only paste. Why, at most it was worth only five hundred francs!' " (Maupassant). In other words, Mme. Forestier told Mme. Loisel that her original necklace was a fake and valued at 500 francs. This illustrates that Mme. Loisel went through so much to find out that the original necklace was a paste and not the real deal. This impacts the story by helping "The Necklace" to be called great, a good ending makes a good story. Another element that makes "The Necklace" great is the connection between it and the reader. In the story it states, "Each month notes had to be paid, and others renewed to give more time. Her husband labored evenings to balance a tradesman's accounts, and at night, often, he copied documents at five sous a page. And this went on for ten years. Finally, all was paid back, everything including the exorbitant rates of the loan sharks and accumulated compound interest" (Maupassant). To put it differently, after ten years of hard work M. and Mme. Loisel were able to pay back all the money they owed, even with all the interest piled up. This depicts that people will go through great lengths to keep the truth a secret. This

impacts the story by helping out "The Necklace" to be considered greater than "The Scarlet Ibis." To wrap it all up, "The Necklace" is the better of the two stories between "The Necklace" and "The Scarlet Ibis," due to the better conclusion and the connection between reader and story.

There are a vast number of similarities between "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant and "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst as well as differences. Though both stories are good, "The Necklace" is the greater of the two. A great story needs a good ending and connections between the reader and the characters or the overall story.