THE NECKLACE
SHORT QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q1: Describe Mathilde Loisel's character at the beginning of the story. What are her primary
traits and desires?
A1: At the beginning of the story, Mathilde Loisel is depicted as a discontented woman who
is unhappy with her middle-class life. She is dissatisfied with her modest social status and
constantly dreams of a more luxurious and glamorous life. She desires wealth, social
recognition, and the finer things in life but is frustrated by her limited circumstances.
Q2: How does Mathilde's husband, Monsieur Loisel, try to make her happy at the beginning
of the story?
A2: Monsieur Loisel is a devoted and caring husband who goes to great lengths to make
Mathilde happy. In an effort to please her, he secures an invitation to an exclusive ball, which
he believes will fulfill her desire for a taste of high society. He also sacrifices his own
savings, intended for a hunting rifle, to buy Mathilde a beautiful dress for the ball.
Q3: What happens to Mathilde's borrowed necklace at the ball, and how do she and her
husband react to this?
A3: At the ball, Mathilde loses the necklace she borrowed from her friend Madame Forestier.
She and her husband, Monsieur Loisel, search frantically for it but cannot find it. They
decide to replace the necklace without informing Madame Forestier about the loss. They
purchase a new necklace and spend a significant portion of their savings to do so.
Q4: How do Mathilde and her husband's lives change as a result of replacing the lost
necklace?
A4: Replacing the lost necklace places Mathilde and her husband in dire financial straits.
They must borrow money and work hard for years to repay the debt incurred from
purchasing a new necklace. Their previously modest, comfortable life is replaced by one of
hardship and poverty.
Q5: What is the central irony in the story "The Necklace"?
A5: The central irony of the story lies in the fact that Mathilde and her husband's lives take a
turn for the worse because they replace a necklace that was, in fact, a fake. Mathilde and the
reader only discover this truth at the end of the story, after they have endured years of
hardship, believing the necklace to be genuine.
Q6: How does Mathilde's appearance change over the years?
A6: Over the years, Mathilde's once-beautiful appearance deteriorates. The years of hard
work, poverty, and sacrifice take a toll on her physical beauty. She loses her youthful charm
and becomes an older, worn-down woman.
Q7: What is the symbolic significance of the necklace in the story?
A7: The necklace symbolizes the pursuit of material wealth and the superficial desire for
social status. Mathilde's obsession with the necklace represents her desire for a life of luxury
and her dissatisfaction with her current circumstances. The necklace, however, turns out to
be fake, highlighting the theme that materialism and the pursuit of appearances can lead to
tragedy and unhappiness.
Q8: How does the story "The Necklace" explore the consequences of deception and
dishonesty?
A8: The story explores the consequences of deception and dishonesty through Mathilde's
decision to replace the lost necklace without informing Madame Forestier. This deception
leads to financial ruin for Mathilde and her husband. It serves as a cautionary tale about the
potential consequences of not being honest and upfront about one's mistakes.
LONG QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q1: Describe Mathilde Loisel's dissatisfaction with her life at the beginning of the story.
What specific aspects of her life does she find disappointing, and why?
A1: Mathilde Loisel is deeply dissatisfied with her life at the beginning of the story. She
feels that she deserves a more luxurious and glamorous lifestyle than her middle-class
existence. She is discontented with her modest apartment, her plain furniture, and her lack of
fashionable clothing. She is particularly frustrated by her lack of social status and the fact
that she is not invited to the prestigious events and parties she believes she deserves.
Mathilde longs for wealth, admiration, and a life of opulence, and her discontent is rooted in
her desire to escape the limitations of her social and economic circumstances.
Q2: Analyze the role of Monsieur Loisel in the story. How does his character contrast with
Mathilde's, and how does he respond to her desires?
A2: Monsieur Loisel is Mathilde's husband, and he is portrayed as a practical and devoted
man. Unlike Mathilde, he is content with their middle-class life and is genuinely concerned
about her happiness. He makes every effort to please her, even if it means sacrificing his own
desires. He secures an invitation to the ball she desires to attend and sacrifices the money he
had saved for a hunting trip to buy her a dress. Monsieur Loisel's character contrasts with
Mathilde's because he is selfless and willing to make personal sacrifices to make her happy.
He represents a more down-to-earth perspective in contrast to Mathilde's dreams of luxury
and extravagance.
Q3: Discuss the significance of the borrowed necklace in the story. How does its loss lead to
the central conflict and subsequent events?
A3: The borrowed necklace is of central importance in the story as it acts as the catalyst for
the central conflict. Mathilde borrows the necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to
wear to the ball, believing that it will enhance her appearance and help her fit in with the
upper class. However, she loses the necklace at the ball, and this loss drives the subsequent
events of the story. The necklace's loss creates a dilemma for Mathilde and her husband, who
decide to replace it without informing Madame Forestier. This decision sets in motion a
series of consequences that lead to financial hardship, deception, and the eventual revelation
that the necklace was not as valuable as they initially believed.
Q4: Explore the theme of appearances and deception in "The Necklace." How do these
themes impact the characters' lives and choices?
A4: The theme of appearances and deception is a central focus of the story. Mathilde's
obsession with appearances leads her to desire a lifestyle she cannot afford. She believes that
material possessions and social status are more important than authenticity and contentment.
This obsession with appearances and social recognition ultimately leads her to borrow the
necklace, and the subsequent deception about its loss causes the characters to spiral into a
web of lies. The theme highlights the shallow nature of valuing material possessions over
personal integrity and contentment.
Q5: Analyze the story's ending. How does the revelation about the necklace's value create
irony and reflection on the characters' choices?
A5: The ending of the story is marked by a twist of irony. After years of hardship, Mathilde
and her husband manage to repay their debt and replace the lost necklace. However, the
revelation that the necklace was a fake, and its value was significantly lower than they
believed, creates a profound sense of irony. This twist of fate highlights the superficiality of
their actions and the consequences of their pursuit of appearances. Mathilde's relentless
desire for material wealth and social status ultimately led to her downfall, and the realization
of the necklace's true value forces her to confront the folly of her choices.
Q6: Consider the role of social class and wealth in the story. How do these factors influence
the characters' lives and interactions?
A6: Social class and wealth play a significant role in the story, influencing the characters'
aspirations, desires, and interactions. Mathilde's dissatisfaction stems from her perception of
her lower social class. She believes that if she were wealthy, she would be happier and more
respected. Her yearning for a higher social status drives her decisions, leading her to borrow
the necklace to fit in at the ball. The contrast between her dreams of opulence and her actual
financial situation emphasizes the gap between appearance and reality. The story ultimately
underscores the idea that pursuing wealth and status at the expense of honesty and
contentment can have devastating consequences.
Q7: Analyze Mathilde's transformation throughout the story. How does her character evolve
as a result of her experiences?
A7: Mathilde undergoes a significant transformation throughout the story. Initially discontent
and dissatisfied with her life, she becomes more disillusioned and self-aware as a result of
her experiences. The loss of the necklace and the subsequent years of hardship force her to
confront the consequences of her actions and her relentless pursuit of material wealth. As she
and her husband struggle to repay their debt, Mathilde's physical appearance deteriorates,
mirroring her inner turmoil. By the end of the story, Mathilde has become a humble and
resigned woman, stripped of her vanity and illusions. Her transformation serves as a
cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing appearances over inner values.