An archetype is a character, setting, or symbol that follows a universally recognized story pattern. This literary device appears in William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, through the character of Macbeth; and in Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” with the character of Mathilde Loisel. In their respective works, these characters experience a fall from grace as a result of their negative actions. Both Macbeth and “The Necklace” reveal to the reader that a fall from grace is an archetype in which a flaw in the protagonist results in his or her descent in status and punishment. To start, the fall of a protagonist is triggered by his or her own negative trait or flaw. In the case of Macbeth, Macbeth’s flaw is his greed for power.
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In this display of greed, Macbeth proves that he cannot simply be content with his positions as Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis, but must rather kill Duncan for even more power. However, upon receiving the title as king, Macbeth’s greed causes him to murder Banquo and Fleance. The witches prophesize that Banquo “...shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.65). It is not enough for Macbeth to be king, but he must also avoid a “fruitless crown” (3.1.63). Similarly, in “The Necklace,” Mathilde’s fall is triggered by her own greed for wealth. Just as Macbeth is unsatisfied with his position of power, Mathilde is unsatisfied with her modest lifestyle: “She [Mathilde] had no dresses, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that; she felt made for that” (De Maupassant 1). Clearly, Mathilde feels as if she is entitled to the privileges of the rich, despite already living comfortably as a housewife. Furthermore, in the same way that Macbeth’s greed for power is insatiable, it is evident throughout the short story that Mathilde’s greed for wealth can also never be satisfied. For example, upon buying a new dress for the ball, Mathilde is annoyed “not to have a single jewel, not a single stone” (2). Ultimately, it is these flaws -- Macbeth’s greed for power and Mathilde’s greed for wealth – that incite their respective
In this display of greed, Macbeth proves that he cannot simply be content with his positions as Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis, but must rather kill Duncan for even more power. However, upon receiving the title as king, Macbeth’s greed causes him to murder Banquo and Fleance. The witches prophesize that Banquo “...shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.65). It is not enough for Macbeth to be king, but he must also avoid a “fruitless crown” (3.1.63). Similarly, in “The Necklace,” Mathilde’s fall is triggered by her own greed for wealth. Just as Macbeth is unsatisfied with his position of power, Mathilde is unsatisfied with her modest lifestyle: “She [Mathilde] had no dresses, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that; she felt made for that” (De Maupassant 1). Clearly, Mathilde feels as if she is entitled to the privileges of the rich, despite already living comfortably as a housewife. Furthermore, in the same way that Macbeth’s greed for power is insatiable, it is evident throughout the short story that Mathilde’s greed for wealth can also never be satisfied. For example, upon buying a new dress for the ball, Mathilde is annoyed “not to have a single jewel, not a single stone” (2). Ultimately, it is these flaws -- Macbeth’s greed for power and Mathilde’s greed for wealth – that incite their respective