Introduction: Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace” has been shown clearly in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant when he highlights the modern epidemic of materialism that often grips beautiful but foolish women, leading them to the brink of ruin as they mistakenly believe they are fulfilling their societal duties and pursuing their rightful entitlements. Mathilda, the protagonist of “The Necklace,” is afflicted by this mental ailment from the outset of the story. She is depicted as being consumed by thoughts of being “kept out of her own class” (Maupassant 543), which she perceives as her entitlement. This materialism not only jeopardizes her physical allure but also undermines her financial stability and jeopardizes the future of her family.
Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
When the story begins, Mathilda perceives herself as a woman of delicacy and beauty. However, upon marrying a lowly clerk in the education department, she feels discontented with her situation. This dissatisfaction begins to erode her beauty and physical charm. When she and her husband receive a letter from the Minister of Education, Mathilda causes trouble for her husband by expressing, “there is nothing more humiliating than to look poor among a lot of rich women” (544), prompting him to feel obligated to spend whatever they have to enhance her appearance. They exhaust their resources and borrow a necklace, which they ultimately lose and suffer the consequences thereof. Mathilda toils tirelessly and sacrifices her physical charm, to the extent that the true owner of the necklace, Madame Forestier, fails to recognize her.
Secondly, this stupidity due to materialism ruined their financial situation. They were financially good as they were saving something. However, when she suffered from mental distress of looking shabby among the elite women, Mathilad forced her husband to purchase more than they could afford and to top it this, they also borrowed a very expensive necklace. She “learned the horrible life of the needy” (545) after they managed to pay back for the necklace and this ruined their financial situation.
Thirdly, it was solely Mathilda’s obsession with materialism that ultimately led to the ruin of their family’s future. As a result of their debt incurred from replacing the lost necklace, both Mathilda and her husband were forced to work tirelessly for the remainder of their lives to repay their debts. Without this financial burden, they could have easily saved enough to provide a comfortable life for themselves and their children. It is evident that Mathilda’s fixation on material possessions was the root cause of their downfall.
Conclusion: Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
Therefore, Mathilda suffered from what is commonly referred to in modern terms as materialism, or the desire to appear better off than others. This obsession not only affected the entire family but also caused hardship for her husband, the clerk, due to her mistake.
Works Cited: Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
SARI, Yunita. “The Analysis of the Characters in Maupassant’s The Necklace.” ENGLISH PROSE ANALYSIS 57.
Relevant Questions about Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
- How does the Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace” manifest itself, and what are the consequences of her obsession with wealth and social status?
- How does the Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace,” particularly her relentless pursuit of material possessions like the borrowed necklace, contribute to the central themes of the story?
- In what ways does the Materialism of Mathilda in “The Necklace” impact her relationships, her perception of herself, and her overall sense of fulfillment throughout the narrative?