Introduction to Mathilda in “The Necklace”
Regarding Mathilda in “The Necklace”, it is easy to pinpoint her as a narcissistic character. However, it is very difficult to pinpoint how narcissists react when they feel envious, or jealous of others. This perfectly describes the character traits that Mathilda in “ The Necklace” portrayed by Guy De Maupassant shows. She is not only suffering from her own lowly position as she was born into a low family, but she is also suffering from her marriage with the clerk of the education department. The very title of clerk gives her a shock as to her position in society. And this is what tortures her more that he husband was not from the upper class. Her low middle-class status tortures her so much so that Mathilda in “The Necklace” showed narcissism through her envious character traits as well as through her own competition with other women which ultimately led to her suffering.
Mathilda in “The Necklace” as Narcissistic Character
Most narcissists think that they are very charming and attractive and that “they must be seen as perfect or superior. Mathilda in “The Necklace” is the same character that the very first line of the story shows that she was pretty and charming and thought that it was a blunder that she was born in such a low family (Maupassant) and artisans are often in the middle-class not elite or upper class. Therefore, what she thought of “getting known” (Maupassant) was quite out of question, and to add fuel to the fire, she married a lowly clerk. This became a reason for her suffering as “She suffered endlessly.” She wanted to be loved and “sought after” (Maupassant). Her mental torture started with her consciousness of being very attractive and this consciousness made a frail woman a very easy victim of narcissism. Such persons when they become a victim of this psychological disorder, “criticize, gripe, and complain” (Ashmun) and that is why she was doing it.
Mathilda in “The Necklace” Showing Envious Nature
First, Mathilda in “The Necklace” became envious whenever she met her friend Madam Forestier and whenever she met her, “She would weep” (Maupassant). Her mental agony further intensified whenever her husband used to bring her something or tried to gladden her. When he brought the invitation from the Minister of Education, her immediate response was what to do with it (Maupassant) because she thought that without an excellent dress, she would be looking from a low class and not so beautiful was not acceptable to her. Somehow, he managed to make up the sum for her expensive dress but when the question of wearing some jewelry to suit the occasion arose, again she made his life hell. Her response was she was looking miserable (Maupassant), and this made him think about it. When she put forward the suggestion of borrowing it from her rich friend, he had nothing to go against it and he readily accepted to pacify her mental agony. When she finally got it, “She danced madly” (Maupassant) as her envious nature was finally satisfied. However, this cost not only her but also her husband dearly.
Mathilda in “The Necklace” Showing Competitive Nature
The second argument is about her competitive nature which made her a narcissist. Whatever she had she compared it with others to see whether it was all right. She had the quality of being “pretty” that distinguishes her, but she competitively wanted to be “getting known,” more than the other women of her ilk and that is what led to her downfall (Maupassant). Her competitive nature came to the fore when her husband gave her an invitation and instead of rejoicing and thinking about preparations, she started making a fuss (Maupassant). This clearly shows that she wanted to compete with other women and woo men which other women also long to come near them. Her consciousness of being pretty but from low family background made her know that she could not dream of having that due to her poverty and this consciousness of being a beauty but not a bedecked one, tormented her. At the party with the necklace that she borrowed from her rich friend, she found herself the cynosure of the party. This was what she wanted to have. It means all other women were neglected and she won. This was a fundamental weakness in her character that she wanted to compete with others in every matter but when she finally became aware that her necklace was lost, she had to undergo suffering for the next ten years. It is another thing that later she discovered that it turned out fake.
Consciousciosuness of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
The consciousness of being a beauty among the general lot and the desire to be differentiated from others due to her beauty and further elegance became the basis of her narcissism. It further fueled her desire to look charming with jewelry and fine clothes. The major desire behind it was to be counted among the elite class. Consciousness of Mathilda in “The Necklace”,is a sign ofnarcissism born out of her competitive nature, led her to do what they could not afford. They not only purchased an expensive dress but also borrowed a necklace whose loss proved costly that they had to undergo ten-year long suffering to repay it. Therefore, it was this personality disorder of Mathilda that cost her and her husband dearly that they had to waste their young years for it.
Works Cited
- Ashmun, Joanna M. “Narcissist Personality Disorder.” Halcyon, 2008, http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/traits.html. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
- De Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace.” Exploros, n.d., http://exploros-shared-media.s3.amazonaws.com/OER/ELA/Grade+8/ELA8.2.02.passages.pdf. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
Relevant Questions about the Narcissism of Mathilda in “The Necklace”
- How does Mathilda in “The Necklace” exhibit narcissistic traits through her relentless pursuit of social status and material possessions in the story?
- In what instances can we observe Mathilda in “The Necklace” displaying self-absorption and a lack of empathy for others, characteristics often associated with narcissism?
- How does Mathilda in “The Necklace” seek attention and admiration at the ball, and how does her pursuit of these desires shape the events of the story, reflecting her narcissistic tendencies?