Fake Souls
Guy de Maupassant is a French writer known by his interesting and objective stories. "The Necklace", Guy's story, reveals a significant and comprehensive picture of the citizens in the 18th century, especially the psychological aspect of that era. Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies mental states, processes, and behaviors in humans and other animals. Freud and unconsciousness and its often socially unacceptable irrational motives and desires, particularly aggressiveness, were the driving force underlying much behaviors and mental-illness in "The Necklace".
Social classes have a vital role in building characters' psychology. It is also the base for the story's moral. It turns Madame Loisel into a greedy character. She does not think about anything except herself and her needs. This appears when she insists on having a new dress for the ball and does not care about her husband's needs. Madame Loisel thinks that the society will consider her from the upper class if she dresses in expensive clothes and jewelries. She is blind and dehumanized when it comes to social classes. She aims only to be under the spotlight in the ball and does not think what her husband will look like or how will he provide the money. She does not compromise anything for him.
The characters' subconscious has a great impact on the events. Mr. and Mrs. Loisel suffer from the consequences of faking their true selves. At the beginning, they do not live in obscene wealth, yet they live in a good standard of living, but the wife's selfishness leads her to be a real house wife and, almost, becomes a servant. On the other hand, the husband also pays the price of listening to her. He works hard to buy the necklace before it is sold. Both of them get the sense of responsibility at the wrong time.
Therefore, The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant shows the society's pattern of thinking and how the differences in social classes may cause troubles in peoples' lives. The characters' inner feelings are the reason for their suffering. It also is the cornerstone of the story.
Reference:
Encyclopedia Britannica. 2021. psychology
| Definition, History, Fields, Methods, & Facts. [online] Available at:
<https://www.britannica.com/science/psychology> [Accessed 13 November
2021].
I didn't understand Mathilde’s character. Her attitude and her strong desire for a fancy lifestyle are awkward. People really overvalue looks. Because she is attractive, she believes that she should live a fabulous life, but if you think about it, attractiveness by itself mostly leads to a lot of problematic attention and unhealthy beliefs.
ReplyDeleteAttractiveness in itself is not an issue, but the way people stereotype or use it is the problem. People should consider their inner selves first before thinking about appearances.
DeleteThis story is an exact clarification of how “social ranking” leads people to lose their minds and become self-concerned in the 18th century. However, what goes around comes around, at the end; every character reaps the fruits and consequences of their own doings.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Whatever you do, one day, it will come back to you. Living by that motto can change a lot about the world we live in.
DeleteMrs. Loisel definitely deserved that ending. Many of the people at that time, and up until now, have their world revolving around social ranks, showing off, and being wealthy, even if they are feigning it. Staying true to one's self is the best mean of honestly navigating through life.
ReplyDeleteI think so too. Nothing justifies faking your own identity or true self. This may be a hard lesson for Mrs. Loisel to learn from.
DeleteGreed is such a foul way of thinking, indeed. I am wondering, Is there anything Mathilde could have done to make herself happy in her initial situation?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOf course. Finding happiness in the things she owns is the best way to satisfy herself. Constantly looking higher and greedily asking for more gets the person no where.