Guy de Maupassant’s writings are a few of the best ever written due to his famous climatic dénouement. His stories typically reflect underlying social issues of the era. Within his short story, “The Necklace”, women are depicted in a negative manner. This leaves the question, are Maupassant’s writings influenced by society or life events? There is evidence to support both these theories. However, it is clear the 19th century society shaped his short story. Considering society’s 19th century impact, “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, characterizes Madame Loisel as obedient, flawed and having no identity.
Published in 1880, “The Necklace” was written in a period of the rising bourgeois. This revolution evolved from the revolt against social classes. The bourgeois were seen as middle class individuals with materialist principles. For all of history, a women’s role in society was seen only for maternity purposes. It was an age of a patriarchal society. Men dominated the households and women were to follow their commands. Women were seen as having no rights. This lead to the women’s rights movement in 1848, lasting until the 19th century. These activists fought against “family responsibilities, a lack of educational and economic opportunities, and the absence of a voice in …show more content…
His past created a “deep analysis of bitter realities of life that the people usually look over” (Shaheen et al. 1). His whole life shaped his passion for writing and lead him to Flaubert. After meeting Flaubert, his career and passion then took off. A piece of Maupassant’s life can be seen in “The Necklace”, “she let herself be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education” (Maupassant 1). It is no coincidence Maupassant worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Public Instruction for ten years and Monsieur is a clerk of the Ministry of Education. There are slight indications of Maupassant’s history embedded into his
Published in 1880, “The Necklace” was written in a period of the rising bourgeois. This revolution evolved from the revolt against social classes. The bourgeois were seen as middle class individuals with materialist principles. For all of history, a women’s role in society was seen only for maternity purposes. It was an age of a patriarchal society. Men dominated the households and women were to follow their commands. Women were seen as having no rights. This lead to the women’s rights movement in 1848, lasting until the 19th century. These activists fought against “family responsibilities, a lack of educational and economic opportunities, and the absence of a voice in …show more content…
His past created a “deep analysis of bitter realities of life that the people usually look over” (Shaheen et al. 1). His whole life shaped his passion for writing and lead him to Flaubert. After meeting Flaubert, his career and passion then took off. A piece of Maupassant’s life can be seen in “The Necklace”, “she let herself be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education” (Maupassant 1). It is no coincidence Maupassant worked as a clerk in the Ministry of Public Instruction for ten years and Monsieur is a clerk of the Ministry of Education. There are slight indications of Maupassant’s history embedded into his