For This Assignment You Will Read And Analyze The Short Stor

For This Assignment You Will Read And Analyze The Short Story Of The

For this assignment, you will read and analyze the short story "The Necklace" and present your findings in a five-paragraph essay. Write a summary of the story that provides an overview of all parts of the plot in one paragraph. Next, analyze one of the main characters from the story in one paragraph. Discuss internal and external conflicts in the story in another paragraph. Identify the irony (verbal, dramatic, and/or situational) used within the story and explain how it is developed in one paragraph. Finally, state one possible theme and support that theme with specific examples from the story in the last paragraph. Ensure all instructions are followed; final drafts must be typed according to MLA guidelines: size 12 font, double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins.

Paper For Above instruction

The short story "The Necklace," written by Guy de Maupassant, is a poignant narrative that explores themes of pride, envy, and the elusive nature of happiness. The story centers around Madame Loisel, a woman of modest means who yearns for a wealthier lifestyle. The plot begins with her dissatisfaction with her modest existence, then follows her borrowing a beautiful necklace to attend a fancy ball, which she loses. To replace it, she and her husband borrow money and go into debt, resulting in years of hard labor. Eventually, Madame Loisel discovers that the necklace was fake, highlighting the tragic irony of her sacrifices based on deception. This story vividly illustrates how superficial appearances and material possessions can distort reality and influence one's destiny.

Madame Loisel is the protagonist of the story, and her character embodies the complexities of pride and superficiality. She is portrayed as a woman who longs for wealth and social status, viewing her modest life as beneath her. Her vanity and dissatisfaction drive her actions, especially her decision to borrow the necklace to appear more affluent. Madame Loisel’s character evolves as she endures years of hardship to repay her debts, reflecting her resilience. Her internal struggle between contentment and her relentless desire for social acceptance portrays her as a deeply human character whose flaws lead to her downfall, making her a symbol of vanity and unfulfilled longing.

The story features both internal and external conflicts that propel the narrative. Internally, Madame Loisel grapples with her desire for luxury and her dissatisfaction with her modest life, fueling her envy and pride. Externally, her conflict arises from the loss of the necklace and the subsequent financial burden she and her husband face as they strive to replace it. These conflicts intersect, with her internal dissatisfaction leading her to make impulsive decisions, such as borrowing the necklace, that significantly impact her external circumstances. This interplay emphasizes how internal emotions can influence external realities, leading to tragic consequences.

The story employs irony masterfully, utilizing situational, verbal, and dramatic irony. The most prominent is situational irony, where Madame Loisel spends years suffering to replace a necklace that ultimately turns out to be fake. This twist at the end underscores the futility of her sacrifices and the superficial values she cherishes. Verbal irony also appears when Madame Loisel wistfully laments her impoverished life, unaware that her desire for wealth is the root cause of her misery. Dramatic irony manifests as readers know the necklace’s true nature while Madame Loisel remains oblivious until the story’s conclusion, heightening the tragic impact of her misguided pursuits.

One central theme of "The Necklace" is the deceptive nature of appearances and the importance of inner qualities over material wealth. Madame Loisel’s obsession with outward appearances blinds her to the value of her genuine life, leading her to borrow the necklace and strive for societal approval. Her subsequent downfall demonstrates that superficial pursuits often result in unhappiness and hardship. The story suggests that true happiness and self-worth stem from inner virtues rather than external possessions. For example, Madame Loisel's discontent with her modest life contrasts sharply with her years of suffering after losing the necklace, revealing the illusion of wealth and status as false sources of fulfillment.

References

- de Maupassant, Guy. "The Necklace." Translated by Prosper R. Robert, 1884.

- Cuddon, J. A. (2013). A dictionary of literary terms & literary theory. John Wiley & Sons.

- Mays, J. (2000). Critical essays on Guy de Maupassant. G. K. Hall & Co.

- Sutherland, J. (2006). Understanding short stories: The key to storytelling. Pearson.

- Zimbardo, P. G. (2010). The Lucifer effect: Understanding how good people turn evil. Random House.