Friday, October 19, 2012

What is the complication in Maupassant's "The Necklace" that sets up the conflict?

The
complication that causes the conflict in "" is for Madame Loisel to find the things in
life that will make her fit into a higher social class.  This is based on material things.  In
her mind she feels that she was deprived the life of a socialite and that she deserves to have
whatever it takes to get her there.  Mr. Loisel begins to take her on this journey by getting
her a ticket to a very prestigious event that only "the  finest" are invited to.  Once
she has the invitation, she now pouts because she has nothing to wear.  When  her husband gives
her the money, he has been saving for a rifle, it still is not enough.  She then complains that
she has no jewelry to wear, so her husband tells her to ask her wealthy friend, Madame
Forestier, to borrow a bauble to wear.  Based on these three problems, the conflict is set. 
From the time she borrows the necklace, to the end of the story, her life is all downhill,
reducing her to a lower social class than when she started. It just goes to show you, be happy
with what you have because the grass isn't always greener on the other
side. 

Reference:  The Literature and Language
Book
by McDougal Littell

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