How far will people go to obtain the material good they desire? For example, on Black Friday millions of Americans go shopping to obtain items for good prices, even if it means waking up at 2 in the morning and risk getting hurt and getting into fights for the items they want. Unfortunately, for the majority, these deals are worth the risk for some people. This materialistic obsession can be related to Mme. Loisel in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant and Dr. Jenkins in “The Portable Phonograph” by Walter Van Tilburg Clark because she needed the material possession of the necklace in order for her to go to the ball and he was so protective of the phonograph that he became obsessed with it. Material possession affects both stories because when Mme. Loisel went to the ball, she acted snotty and greedy as a result of the necklace, and in “The Portable Phonograph”, Dr. Jenkins became violent and protective as a result of the phonographs. First, in “The Necklace” Mme. Loisel needed the material possession of the necklace in order to go to the ball and her greed cost her to lose everything. …show more content…
Mme. Loisel’s husband got her an invitation to this ball, but she was not happy when he showed it to her because she did not have anything to wear or have any jewelry (Guy de Maupassant 191). She needed some jewelry in order for her to go. Mme. Loisels husband says, “My but you’re silly! Go see your friend Mme. Forestier and ask her to lend you some jewelry. You and she know each other well enough for you to do that (Maupassant 193). If she was not so greedy about needing the necklace, she would not have needed the necklace, and have to face all of the problems that challenged her. Mme. Loisel started to cry and then told her husband what happened, which was that she lost Mme. Forestier’s necklace that she let her borrow (Maupassant 104). All of her greed and snootiness caused her to lose this necklace because if she was not so dramatic about “needing” the necklace to go, then she would not have run into this problem. She did not need to be the prettiest one there or the most special just because of the necklace. The ball was to be fun and to get her out of the house, instead it turned into like a beauty pageant with her. Also, she had to go get a new dress just for this ball. Then, she worked to pay the necklace back, “And this went on for ten years” (Maupassant 195). Mme. Loisel then spent a long time working back to pay for the necklace she had lost. This all could have been resolved if she was not so snotty about having to be dressed up so nicely. She could have just wore what she already had at home. Mme. Loisel had worked doing housework, washing dishes, cooking, cleaned cloths/clothes, took the garbage out, and brought water up to the house. Her husband worked labored every evening and copied some documents. After all of that, they finally worked up the balance they needed to pay for a new necklace to replace Mrs. Forestiers old necklace (Maupassant 105). The balance for the necklace was thirty-four thousand francs. Then, Mme. Loisel showed up at Mme. Forestier’s house. She did not recognize Mme. Loisel because she looked so different (Maupassant 105). Then again, she has worked ten years to replace the necklace for her. Once Mme. Loisel told Mme. Forestier what she was there for, Mme. Forestiers response was, “Oh, my poor Mathilde. But mine was only paste. Why, at most it was worth only five hundred francs!” (Maupassant 196). The point is that Mme. Loisel should not have been so greedy in the beginning and she should have just confronted Mme. Forestier about losing the necklace. She would not have had to work the rest of her life to pay for a new necklace that she paid a lot more for than Mme. Forestier paid for the necklace she lost. Mme.Loisels greed cost her the rest of her life to work to pay for a new necklace that she had to wear to the ball. Next, Dr. Jenkin’s in “The Portable Phonograph”, turned violent for the phonographs. Second, in “The Portable Phonograph”, the author uses the portable phonograph to develop Dr. Jenkin’s character, by making him violent and very protective. Dr. Jenkin’s becomes violent and very protective of the phonograph. He always made sure it was safe, “Quickly Doctor Jenkins lifted the needle off, to save it, and not to spoil the recollection with scraping. When he had stopped the whirling of the sacred disk, he courteously left the phonograph open and by the fire, in sight” (Walter Van Tilburg Clark 143). Dr. Jenkins does not want any danger around his phonograph. They are very important to him. He has saved them from a long time ago. He is proud to have the phonograph, but is also very protective of them. He likes to have the phonograph in sight so, he knows that they are nice and safe. He hides the phonograph for protection also: “With nervous hands he lowered the piece of canvas which served as his door, and pegged it at the bottom. Then quickly and quietly, looking at the piece of canvas frequently, he slipped the records into the case, snapped the lid shut, and carried to phonograph to his couch. There, pausing often to stare at the canvas and listen, he dug earth from the wall and disclosed a piece of board. Behind this there was a deep hole in the wall, into which he put the phonograph” (Clark 143). He would do anything for the phonograph.
It is like his souvenir. He would do anything to protect this phonograph. The phonograph kind of controlled his personality. Also, Dr. Jenkins slept facing the door that night, and he prayed too (Clark 143-144). He probably did that so he could make sure no one came in to steal the phonograph, especially the guests he had over that day because the guests heard the phonograph and they enjoyed it, so, he wants to protect the phonograph. He slept with something next to him, “On the inside of the bed, next the wall, he could feel with his hand, the comfortable piece of lead pipe” (Clark 144). You can see that Dr. Jenkins definitely turned very protective and violent just for the possession he had with the phonograph. The phonograph was really important to him and it was so special to him, that he would do anything to protect
it. In “The Necklace” and “The Portable Phonograph”, Mme. Loisel and Dr. Jenkins personalities changed because of a material possession they had, Mme. Loisel turned greedy because of the necklace, and Dr. Jenkin’s became really protective and kind of violent because of the phonograph. We like to be surrounded by things that bring us delight. There is nothing wrong with that. It is great to be happy and have nice possessions. There is a problem though when our possessions start to possess us. As you can see, Mme. Loisel and Dr. Jenkins with the material possession changed their attitudes a lot. You should not let any material possession change your attitude which, obviously, that is what happened to them. So, watch out or your possessions will possess you.
5. (CP) Madame Loisel borrows seemingly expensive necklace to satisfy her arrogance and attend a party that was way above her social class, only to lose it. She has been blessed with physical beauty, but not with the lifestyle she desires. She may not be the ideal protagonist, but she went through a tough time after she lost the necklace and had to make money to replace it.
Values are spread all around the world, and many people’s values differ. These can lead to people being judged, or indirectly characterized by other people. In “The Necklace” Mme. Loisel is a beautiful woman with a decent life, and a husband that loves her, and only wants to make her happy. She is not rich but she makes it along, she insists of a better, wealthier life. When her husband gets her invited to a ball, she feels the need for a brand new fancy dress and tons of jewelry. When the couple realizes they cannot afford jewelry as well, they search out to borrow her friend, Mme. Forestiers’ necklace. She comes to notice she no longer has the necklace on when she leaves the ball. This later troubles her, as she has to work for a long time to collect enough money to buy a new necklace. This story describes the relationship between a couple, who have different dreams, and how desires can revamp your life. Guy de Maupassant, the author of “The Necklace” uses literary devices to prove people come before materialistic items.
These may be materialistic items that are filling a gap in one’s life, or it could be emotional, spiritual feelings that someone is seeking. Materialistic and emotional desires are explored within these two short stories. Motivation is what compels both Mrs. Sommers and Ann to follow through with their plans. Without this drive and passion, individuals are unable to fully commit to their course of action. A Pair of Silk Stockings, represents how motivations can be used in many different ways. First, Mrs. Sommers motivation was to support her family. This shows how she was cautious for her actions and how they could positively affect other people. This made Mrs. Sommers “restless and wakeful with anticipation.” Once her motives changed into a personal desire, is when Mrs. Sommers lost sight in plan. The moment she “not move in the direction of the bargain counter,” was when her motivation began to work against her. Being able to own items that were of higher quality drove Mrs.Sommers to “hastily” spend her money. Although individuals will always face different initiatives when placed in alternative situations. In Ann’s perspective, her desire was not to obtain materialistic items, but more to have a spiritual connection. Ann was searching for something deeper with a greater meaning. When she didn’t find it within her husband, she looked for it in Steven. One of Ann’s motives was
It is said that “everything that shines isn't gold.” A difficult situation can result a vast illusion that is not what one thought it would be, which leads to disappointment and despair. Just like Guy De Maupassant stories, “The Necklace” and “The Jewel.” In the first story, the protagonist, Mathilde Loisel’s need for materialistic fulfillment causes her hard labor which ends her natural beauty. In the second story, the husband Monsieur Latin ends up living a dreadful life due to the passing of his wife and her admiration for jewels. “The Necklace” and “The Jewel” both share many similarities such as the unconditional love each husband haves toward their wife, the necessity each wife haves towards materialistic greed, the beautiful allurement
In this short story, “The Necklace”, by Guy de Maupassant, Mme. Loisel is to blame for the disaster that occurred. As evidence and several reasonings have shown, Mme. Loisel indeed is the reason Mme. Forestier’s necklace is lost. For example, Mme. Loisel is not happy in any way with her life and what her family can and can not afford. Her husband can afford a roof over their heads and food on the table but Mme. Loisel still insists a desperate change. “It annoys [her] to not have a single jewel, not a single stone, nothing to put on” (Maupassant 2). In other words, Mme. Loisel takes her life for granted when her and her family already have everything they need. As well, she is very irresponsible about keeping the pendant around her neck throughout
Values are spread all around the world, and many people’s values differ. These can lead to people being judged, or indirectly characterized by other people. In “The Necklace” Mme. Loisel is a beautiful woman with a decent life, and a husband that loves her, and only wants to make her happy. She is not rich but she makes it along, she insists of a better, wealthier life. When her husband gets her invited to a ball, she feels the need for a brand new fancy dress and tons of jewelry. When the couple realizes they cannot afford jewelry as well, they search out to borrow her friend, Mme. Forestiers’ necklace. She comes to notice she no longer has the necklace on when she leaves the ball. This later troubles her, as she has to work for a long time to collect enough money to buy a new necklace. This story describes the relationship between a couple, who have different dreams, and how desires can revamp your life. Guy de Maupassant, the author of “The Necklace” uses literary devices to prove people come before materialistic items.
Around the world, values are expressed differently. Some people think that life is about the little things that make them happy. Others feel the opposite way and that expenses are the way to live. In Guy de Maupassant’s short story, “The Necklace”, he develops a character, Madame Loisel, who illustrates her different style of assessments. Madame Loisel, a beautiful woman, lives in a wonderful home with all the necessary supplies needed to live. However, she is very unhappy with her life. She feels she deserves a much more expensive and materialistic life than what she has. After pitying herself for not being the richest of her friends, she goes out and borrows a beautiful necklace from an ally. But as she misplaces the closest thing she has to the life she dreams of and not telling her friend about the mishap, she could have set herself aside from ten years of work. Through many literary devices, de Maupassant sends a message to value less substance articles so life can be spent wisely.
The Necklace also displays distinctive realism in the use of socioeconomic influences which are essential to the plot. The major conflict in the story would be absent and the theme would not be obtainable without Mathilde Loisel’s insecurity about her own socioeconomic reputation. An example of Loisel’s self-deprivation nature is presented when she realizes she does not have a necklace, she says “I shall look absolutely no one. I would almost rather not go to the party” (Maupassant, sec. 3). Another example of the self-conflict caused by social pressure is Loisel’s immediate attempt to replace the necklace and her reluctance to speak to her friend Madame Forestier about the necklace for ten whole years. If she were not conflicted by societal pressures she might have avoided the whole situation altogether. The Necklace establishes a realistic difference in value between the necklaces and proposed clothing. Her husband proposes flowers which were valued 10 franks so in any case if she had chosen the flowers there would have been an insignificant economic loss. Her decision not to tell her friend about the necklace ends up costing her seven times the worth of the original. The roses symbolize the simpler things in life to the theme of the story. Mathilde Loisel’s withered appearance at the end
Loisel repaid the necklace together with their sweat and tears. Mathilde didn’t have a choice; she had to change from a vain, ungrateful, material, bored wife, into a hardworking proud and loving wife. She even says, right before she runs into Mme. Forestier, “What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows? How life is strange and changeful! How little a thing is needed for us to be lost or to be saved!”(39) In that quote I saw 2 things, when she asked herself what would have happened if she didn’t lose the necklace, she doesn’t go into some fairytale about what life she could be living, she just accepts what she is now, even if it’s not the easiest life in the world. At the very end of that quote “How little a thing is needed for us to be lost or to be saved!”(39) The fact that she added “or to be saved!” to her thought, tells me that she realizes that she was vain and unappreciated and that she lacked character, but now she is grateful, even though it was such a terrible thing, she was grateful that she was able to say that she was a better person now, even after everything that happened to her than she ever “dreamed” of being before. Guy de Maupassant certainly described a very difficult hardship for Mathilde in “The Necklace” but in the end, everything that happened to her, made her a much better and stronger woman inside and out. This story teaches a very important lesson, you have no idea what you can do and who you can become, until your chips are down and you’re put between a rock and a hard
When Mme Forestier said that Mme Loisel could borrow the gorgeous, diamond necklace, she was enlightened. Everything was going well until she lost the necklace. In order to replace the lost necklace, the Loisels would have to work every day of their lives, move into an attic, and use their life savings. In the end it turns out that the necklace that they originally lost was only worth 5,000 francs, but the one they got to replace it was worth 40,000. From middle class to poverty, Mme Loisel sure has had one kind of life.
In the short story “The Necklace”, the main character, Loisel, is a woman who dreams of greater things in her life. She is married to a poor clerk who tries his best to make her happy no matter what. In an attempt to try to bring happiness to his wife, he manages to get two invitations to a very classy ball, but even in light of this Loisel is still unhappy. Even when she gets a new dress she is still unhappy. This lasts until her husband suggests she borrows some jewelry from a friend, and upon doing so she is finally happy. Once the ball is over, and they reach home, Loisel has the horrible realization that she has lost the necklace, and after ten years of hard labor and suffering, they pay off debts incurred to get a replacement. The central idea of this story is how something small can have a life changing effect on our and others life’s. This idea is presented through internal and external conflicts, third person omniscient point of view, and the round-dynamic character of Loisel. The third person limited omniscient point-of-view is prevalent throughout this short story in the way that the author lets the reader only see into the main character’s thoughts. Loisel is revealed to the reader as being unhappy with her life and wishing for fancier things. “She suffered ceaselessly, feeling herself born for all the delicacies and all the luxuries.” (de Maupassant 887) When her husband tries to fancy things up, “she thought of dainty dinners, of shining silverware, of tapestry which peopled the walls…” (de Maupassant 887) As the story goes on her point of view changes, as she “now knew the horrible existence of the needy. She took her part, moreover all of a sudden, with heroism.” (de Maupassant 891) Having the accountability to know that the “dreadful debt must be paid.” (de Maupassant 891 ) This point-of-view is used to help the reader gain more insight to how Loisel’s whole mindset is changed throughout her struggle to pay off their debts. Maupassant only reveals the thoughts and feelings of these this main character leaving all the others as flat characters. Loisel is a round-dynamic character in that Maupassant shows how she thought she was born in the wrong “station”. “She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was as unhappy as though she had really fallen from her proper station.
The Necklace At the beginning of the story Madame Loisel was extremely greedy and vain. She wouldn’t accept what her and her husband had at the time and didn’t care that her husband would do everything to keep her content and happy with the life they had. Everything Madame Loisel had she wanted more and pitied herself instead of trying to change their life for the better. “ It’s nothing. It’s just that i have no evening dress
Placing all your energy and well life into an object (like the necklace) can take years away from you. Sometimes what we think of as valuable may not be of actual value. It is all in the way you portray the items. He friend never mentioned how much the valued necklace costed because to her it did not matter. Thus when Mathilde lost it, she never asked its true value. She just assumed and went with it. If she had been honest with her friend she could have saved a lot of trouble.
Loisel’s greedy behavior leads (WC) to her demise, as well as her husband’s too. She focused on obtaining the finest jewels and having everyone believe her to be of higher social status. However, the jewels she thought would make her elegant, turned out to be fake and worthless. This becomes ironic because she felt superior when wearing the necklace but, in fact, it was of no real value. (Combined paragraphs). Maupassant’s effective use of irony helps to strengthen the themes of misplaced value that are found throughout “The Necklace”. Guy de Maupassant writes in an eloquent style that captivates the reader through his use of diction and simplistic yet descriptive sentences. Maupassant effectively portrays the symbolism of social value versus materialistic value through the use of the necklace itself. Guy de Maupassant subtly and effectively illustrates the theme in his short story that one cannot assign a value to someone based on his or her material
The effects of greed are often portrayed in literature and can show both the positive and negative sides of materialism. Readers can use what they learn from literature to determine the difference between a want and a need and to see the possible comforts and anxieties that can come with excessive