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The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant

Questions

1. Who is Mathilde? What is her station in life? How does the speaker describe her character as the story begins?
2. The story was published in 1884. Explain how the details of the Loisel household show domestic conditions at that time. At what level of life do the Loisels live? How does Mathilde feel about this?
3. What happens that seems about to make Mathilde’s life interesting? How does she ask her husband to buy things to wear for the ball? What does the scene between them reveal about her character?
4. What do the Loisels do to overcome their indebtedness? What do Mathilde’s efforts demonstrate about her character?
5. How successful is the ending as a “surprise”? What idea might Maupassant be expressing as a result of the ending?