The Necklace

Whether big or little, major or minor everyone is dishonest about something at some point in their life. Some people will do anything to make themselves appear to be something they are not. People do not realize that it is much easier and better to start out with the truth then to try to remember their lie. They also need to be grateful and happy with the things they have and the lifestyle they live because it could always be worse. Guy de Maupassant makes honesty the most important lesson of "The Necklace". By pointing out that the characters could have avoided their unhappiness by being honest, he reminds readers that they too may suffer consequences from dishonesty. Maupassant started the dishonesty almost immediately. Mistress Loisel was not honest with herself. She is a simple but unhappy girl(Maupassant 2). She felt as if she deserves much better and much more than what she has. Mister Loisel has received an invitation to an exquisite party that people are begging to be invited to. Thinking that this would make her happy, "... I thought you would be pleased", he gave her the envelope to open (Maupassant 13). Actually just the opposite, she does not want to go. She has nothing to wear. He offered to give up his saved monies so that she can go and get a new dress. She still is not happy, she wanted much more than just a dress. She could not wear flowers, that was "... humiliating to look poor among a lot of rich women" (Maupassant 37). She has to have jewels. Looking for jewels, Mister Loisel advises Mathilde to check with Madam Forester. She did just that. She was not happy with the jewels Madam Forester shows her, "You haven 't anything else" (Maupassant 46). Just then Mathilde discovers a box of black satin containing a superb necklace of diamonds (Maupassant 48). It is beautiful, she has to have it. Now Mathilde is complete, everyone will love her, think she is rich, and she will be the center of attention. Just what she has dreamed of and the way she believes she is to be treated. Everyone loves her. She is beautiful. It is now time to return the necklace to Madam Forester. "I -- I -- I have not Madam Forester 's diamond necklace" says Mathilde (Maupassant 66). The necklace is gone. What are they going to do? How are they going to tell Madam Forester? They did not tell her. They lied, "you must write to your friend, tell her the clasp is broken and your having it repaired", Mister Loisel said (Maupassant 84). They search and search for diamonds exactly like the ones Madam Forester lent to Mathilde. Finally they find some but they are so expensive. They do not have that kind of money. Mister and Mistress Loisel ask for loans from friends and loan sharks. They have collected enough money to purchase the replacement necklace. They return the necklace in the hope Madam Forester does not notice it is different. For the next ten years they learn "the horrible like of the needy" (Maupassant 98). They have to work hard and live poor so they can repay the loans and loan sharks for the necklace. Years later Mistress Loisel runs into Madam Forester. Madam Forester does not recognize her for she looked poor. Mathilde finally tells her the truth about the necklace, that it was lost. Madam Forester then informs her that the necklace was not real but "false" (Maupassant 128). In conclusion, if the truth had been told in the first place there would have been no need to lie about anything. People who pretend to be someone or something else are lying to themselves. People need to be happy with what they have and who they are. When something happens whether good or bad, be honest. Honesty makes a person happier.

Works Cited
De Maupassant, Guy. "The Necklace." The Short Story: Specimens Illustrating its Development. New York: American Book Company, 1907. Bartleby.com, 2000. Web. MyPHCC. Web. May 27 2013.

Cited: De Maupassant, Guy. "The Necklace." The Short Story: Specimens Illustrating its Development. New York: American Book Company, 1907. Bartleby.com, 2000. Web. MyPHCC. Web. May 27 2013.