The Locket Analysis

The ending of “The Locket” is very predictable. With careful analysis, any reader should be able to easily guess the ending before actually reading it. From the start to the end, clues are constantly given about the ending. As the story opens, soldiers were questioning Edmond about the locket and showed great interest in it. Also, when a soldier was found dead with the locket, the story never actually said the dead body was Edmond. Finally, many foreshadowing clues are given when Octavia talks to her friend the judge. Hence, the ending of the story is predictable because other soldiers clearly valued the locket, the story never said the dead body was Edmond, and the judge directly suggests to Octavia that Edmond will come back.

First, the

locket was both valuable and highly esteemed by other soldiers. This suggests the possibility that it could be stolen. At the start of the story, Edmond and four soldiers sit around a campfire. Two of the soldiers question Edmond about the locket, while one solider remains silent, just listening to the conversation. At this time, the reader learns that the locket was given to Edmond by his wife and that it was her “most precious earthly possession”. The soldiers joked that the locket was a charm that helped keep Edmond safe during the war. It is not difficult to deduce that if someone has a valuable item it could possibly be stolen. The fact that the soldiers around Edmond noticed the locket, and seemed to greatly admire it, makes this even easier to predict.

Next, the story never directly says the dead body is Edmond. This suggests the possibility that Edmond may still be alive. When the solider is found dead with the locket around his neck, it is assumed to be Edmond. However, the story never directly says this. Moreover, the description of the body does not seem to match Edmond. The soldier was described as “a mere boy”. Although Octavia was described as “young” and “youthful”, it is unlikely that her husband would be young enough to be described as “a mere boy.” Because of this, readers will likely question if the dead solider is really Edmond.

Finally Octavia’s meeting with her friend, the judge, is the biggest clue that Edmond will come back at the end of the story.

The clues begin when the judge comments about Octavia’s veil. He asked her to remove her veil, telling her to “never put it on again.” This suggests the morning process should be over. It is later revealed that the reason the judge does not want her to mourn is because Edmond is not actually dead. The judge placed his arm on her and said “Do you not think that on a day like this, miracles might happen? When the whole earth is vibrant with life, does it not seem to you, Octavia, that heaven might for once relent and give us back our dead?” This is the most obvious clue that Edmond is not actually dead or that he will somehow comeback. Even readers who are not good at noticing foreshadowing clues should easily be able to predict the ending by this point.

In conclusion, the ending of “The Locket” is very predictable. This is because of three main reasons. First the locket was valuable and other soldiers noticed and admired it, suggesting the possibility that people may want to steal it. Secondly, the story never directly says the dead body is Edmond, and the description of the body does not seem to match Edmond. Finally the judge gives several clues, and even directly suggests that the dead will come back. Hence, with careful reading, the ending of the story is

predictable.