"the Necklace" a Closer Look at the Characters

Characters in a story can be classified as "dynamic" or "static". Dynamic characters are characters that change as the story progresses. That is, they recognize, change with, or adjust to circumstances. Static characters, which can also be described as "flat", are characters that are not well developed and remain fairly unchanged throughout the story. Usually static characters have minor roles in a story.

In any literary work, it is absolutely essential to have characters, whether major or minor. It is also necessary to develop these characters through out the story. Character development gives the reader insight to the more important meanings or lessons of the story. "A characteristic of `The Necklace' is its extreme brevity: it is nine pages long. But this is not because all so-called extraneous details have been ruthlessly pared away. For the story is not as straightforward as it seems. The story-teller in `The Necklace' is a ludic narrator, sometimes mischievously misleading his reader, and sometimes building suspense by indulgence in personal digression". (Adamson) lessons are usually brought out by the events that take place within the story. Looking at Guy De Maupassant's piece "The Necklace", we see a very clear development of the main and dynamic character is Mathidle. In the story, we see a change in her attitude about life. This change come about when she has to learn one of life's little lessons the hard way. She and her husband are forced to live a life of hard work and struggle because of her own selfish desires. Mathilde changes from a woman who spends her time dreaming of all the riches and glory she doesn't have, to realizing that she over looked all the riches she did have. The story opens with the description of how miserable Mathilde is. Maupassant describes her as "suffering constantly, feeling herself destined for all delicacies and luxuries." (Roberts 4) She sits dreaming of silent rooms nicely decorated and her own private room, scented with perfume to have intimate "tete-a-tetes" with her closest friends. Then she is awakened from her own daze, only to realize that she is in her own grim apartment. In her eyes, she lives a tortured and unfair
life. Mathidle has a husband named Losiel. He is much the opposite of his wife. He is completely content with his lifestyle. He seems to be a very passive person, who doesn't let status or riches effect him. Yes, M. Loisel appreciates the little things. He also seems devoted to his wife.Of course, if he had the chance to be rich he would, but he doesn't dwell on the fact that he is part of the middle class. He seems to be a hard worker and does his best to provide for his wife. He demonstrates is simplicity the one night at dinner Losiel and Mathilde sit down to eat. Mathidle is dreaming of fancy four course meals, while he is ecstatic because they are eating boiled beef. Losiel is aware that his wife has not yet adjusted to her status. One night, he had come home from work very excited. He had worked extra hard to get he and his wife invited to one of the biggest parties ever. Losiel thought this would be please his wife, when in fact it only made her upset. Here was Losiel trying to please his wife and she just started to cry. This just goes to show how ungrateful she really is. When Losiel had inquired about why she was upset, she had said it was because she had nothing to wear. She was hinting to her husband that she needed a dress. Then Losiel, because he wanted his wife to be happy had willingly given up his vacation money so his wife could have a dress to wear. Still, that wasn't good enough for her. Mathilde wanted more. Luckily, Mathilde had a friend in the upper class. Mme Jeanne Forestier is the rich friend: the person you turn to when you need something absolutely fabulous to wear and someone who has everything Mathilde would love to have. Mathilde had gone to her friend and had asked to borrow jewelry for the occasion. This just helped to prove her need to have more. When

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