The Necklace is a short story written by the French writer Guy de Maupassant in 1884 It tells the story of a woman, Mathilde Loisel, who finds herself deeply unhappy with her life and her social status. Through a series of unfortunate events, her dream of becoming a higher-class woman is fulfilled – however, it ultimately leaves her worse off than before.
The Necklace is an enduring story that deals with topics such as class disparity, the power of appearance, and the consequences of unwise decisions. It serves as an interesting source of material for essays. Here is a list of five essay topics that can be derived from The Necklace:
1. The Power of Appearance: This essay could explore the idea of how deceiving appearances can be and how this is illustrated in The Necklace. It could analyze Mathilde's desperate attempts to pass off as someone of a higher class and how this ultimately fails her.
2. Exploring Social Class: This essay could provide an insightful look at the social structures that were in place during the 19th century, as well as how these structures are still present today. It could also examine how Mathilde's attempts to transcend her social class ultimately fails her.
3. Consequences of Unwise Decisions: This essay could analyze the disastrous consequences of Mathilde's unwise decision to borrow a necklace. It could look at how this leads to a chain of events that ultimately leaves her worse off than before.
4. Exploring Human Greed: This essay could look at the theme of human greed that is presented in The Necklace. It could analyze Mathilde's desire to own fine things and how this leads to her downfall.
5. Examining Maupassant's Writing: This essay could provide an in-depth analysis of Maupassant's style of writing and its themes. It could also look at how The Necklace presents a snapshot of 19th-century French society and its social classes.
Overall, The Necklace is a fascinating short story that can serve as a source of material for a variety of interesting essays. It is a timeless story that still resonates with readers today, encouraging them to reflect on the choices they make and the consequences that can result from them.