MID-TEST
Rahma Iftita Putri 221010600492 04SIGP007 Prose
The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant set in France around 700 years ago. The
story begins with Mathilde Loisel, a dissatisfied middle-class woman, who desires a life of
luxury and glamor. The exposition introduces Mathilde, who dreams of a more luxurious life
and is jealous of her wealthy friend Madame Forestier (Maupassant, p. 1). Her dissatisfaction
becomes the background for the rising action, as her husband, Monsieur Loisel, gives her an
invitation to a ball, but she is upset and complains about not having any clothes (Maupassant,
p. 2). She goes to the event anyway and borrows Madame Forestier's diamond jewelry. The
climax happens at the ball, where Mathilde looks stunning but after they get back home,
Mathilde realizes that the necklace is gone (Maupassant, p. 3). This incident becomes the
point of falling action which sends the Loisel family into debt to replace the necklace, making
it difficult for them for years and changing their lives dramatically (Maupassant, p. 5). In the
end, the resolution comes when Mathilde meets her old friend, Madame Forestier, who
reveals that the necklace is just an imitation piece, making their sacrifice meaningless
(Maupassant, p. 5).
The protagonist in this story is Mathilde Loisel. She is the main character who becomes the
center of the story, as her desires and actions drive the plot forward (Maupassant, p. 1). The
story explains that Mathilde's goal is to experience a life of luxury and glamor, away from her
own simple life. She craved the finer things in life, such as elegant dresses, fancy parties, and
the admiration of high society. This desire for material possessions and social status is seen in
her obsession with attending balls and her desire to be perceived as rich and classy
(Maupassant, p. 1).
In this story, the antagonist is not a specific character, but the expectations and pressures of
society that drive Mathilde's dissatisfaction. Society's emphasis on material wealth and social
status creates an environment where Mathilde feels unsatisfied and unfulfilled with what she
has (Maupassant, p. 1). Additionally, others can also argue that Mathilde's unrealistic
expectations and lack of gratitude towards her current situation serve as an internal
antagonist, pushing her to make choices that finally lead to her downfall (Maupassant, p. 1).
The story represents the social issue of class inequality and the consequences of social
pressures. Mathilde's endless quest for wealth and status highlights the gap between social
classes and the unrealistic standards that are forced on them by society (Maupassant, p. 1). In
addition, the revelation that the necklace is fake highlights the theme of appearance versus
reality, suggesting that the pursuit of material wealth and social status is often hollow and
Rahma Iftita Putri 221010600492 04SIGP007 Prose
The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant set in France around 700 years ago. The
story begins with Mathilde Loisel, a dissatisfied middle-class woman, who desires a life of
luxury and glamor. The exposition introduces Mathilde, who dreams of a more luxurious life
and is jealous of her wealthy friend Madame Forestier (Maupassant, p. 1). Her dissatisfaction
becomes the background for the rising action, as her husband, Monsieur Loisel, gives her an
invitation to a ball, but she is upset and complains about not having any clothes (Maupassant,
p. 2). She goes to the event anyway and borrows Madame Forestier's diamond jewelry. The
climax happens at the ball, where Mathilde looks stunning but after they get back home,
Mathilde realizes that the necklace is gone (Maupassant, p. 3). This incident becomes the
point of falling action which sends the Loisel family into debt to replace the necklace, making
it difficult for them for years and changing their lives dramatically (Maupassant, p. 5). In the
end, the resolution comes when Mathilde meets her old friend, Madame Forestier, who
reveals that the necklace is just an imitation piece, making their sacrifice meaningless
(Maupassant, p. 5).
The protagonist in this story is Mathilde Loisel. She is the main character who becomes the
center of the story, as her desires and actions drive the plot forward (Maupassant, p. 1). The
story explains that Mathilde's goal is to experience a life of luxury and glamor, away from her
own simple life. She craved the finer things in life, such as elegant dresses, fancy parties, and
the admiration of high society. This desire for material possessions and social status is seen in
her obsession with attending balls and her desire to be perceived as rich and classy
(Maupassant, p. 1).
In this story, the antagonist is not a specific character, but the expectations and pressures of
society that drive Mathilde's dissatisfaction. Society's emphasis on material wealth and social
status creates an environment where Mathilde feels unsatisfied and unfulfilled with what she
has (Maupassant, p. 1). Additionally, others can also argue that Mathilde's unrealistic
expectations and lack of gratitude towards her current situation serve as an internal
antagonist, pushing her to make choices that finally lead to her downfall (Maupassant, p. 1).
The story represents the social issue of class inequality and the consequences of social
pressures. Mathilde's endless quest for wealth and status highlights the gap between social
classes and the unrealistic standards that are forced on them by society (Maupassant, p. 1). In
addition, the revelation that the necklace is fake highlights the theme of appearance versus
reality, suggesting that the pursuit of material wealth and social status is often hollow and
