The Value of Ignorance “The Jewelry” is a peculiar short story which follows the Freytag Pyramid plot structure pattern very closely. The pacing of events varies quite frequently as some events are detailed more closely than others. All throughout this tragic story, the basic plot components, such as the exposition, rising action, climax, etc., are easily identifiable. The exposition of the story begins by revealing the main characters, M. and Mme. Lantin. It then proceeds to describe how affectionate the two are for each other, how their financial situation is, some of the wife’s history, and the wife’s adoration of theater and fake jewelry. M. Lantin was frequently pressured by his wife into attending performances at the theater. Tired
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Lantin grieved so heavily for his wife that he, “...was very nearly following her into the tomb” (Maupassant 68). He lost his will to continue work, and his financial stability soon collapsed. He struggled to provide the few essentials he desired, so he made a decision. He took one of his late wife’s fake pearl necklace and wanted to sell it in order to pay for food. The first jeweler he visited gave him an extremely high estimate, but he wanted to see the appraisals of other jewelers. Upon the second appraisal of the jewelry, M. Lantin was utterly astonished when he learned that the necklace was worth 18,000 francs. This is far more than he and his late wife made in a year. Also, it is quoted in the book that,“...this necklace was sent to the address of Madame Lantin, 16 Rue des Martyrs, on July 20th, 1876” (Maupassant 70). This implies that she received the necklace, and the other jewelry, from somebody other than M. Lantin. All of jewelry was real and of the highest quality. This series of complications leads directly to the climax. M. Lantin hesitated greatly in his decision to sell all the jewelry. Immediately before the sale, the book states, “Twenty times he started to go in (into the jeweler’s shop); but shame always kept him back” (Maupassant 70). A point of extreme emotional intensity and desperation for M. Lantin, the revelation about his wife’s jewelry eventually made him fold under the pressure of greed and sell it all. He amassed a lump sum of 196,000 francs from the sale. This moment of the sale is considered the climax of the story. From this point, the story deescalates rather
Lantin grieved so heavily for his wife that he, “...was very nearly following her into the tomb” (Maupassant 68). He lost his will to continue work, and his financial stability soon collapsed. He struggled to provide the few essentials he desired, so he made a decision. He took one of his late wife’s fake pearl necklace and wanted to sell it in order to pay for food. The first jeweler he visited gave him an extremely high estimate, but he wanted to see the appraisals of other jewelers. Upon the second appraisal of the jewelry, M. Lantin was utterly astonished when he learned that the necklace was worth 18,000 francs. This is far more than he and his late wife made in a year. Also, it is quoted in the book that,“...this necklace was sent to the address of Madame Lantin, 16 Rue des Martyrs, on July 20th, 1876” (Maupassant 70). This implies that she received the necklace, and the other jewelry, from somebody other than M. Lantin. All of jewelry was real and of the highest quality. This series of complications leads directly to the climax. M. Lantin hesitated greatly in his decision to sell all the jewelry. Immediately before the sale, the book states, “Twenty times he started to go in (into the jeweler’s shop); but shame always kept him back” (Maupassant 70). A point of extreme emotional intensity and desperation for M. Lantin, the revelation about his wife’s jewelry eventually made him fold under the pressure of greed and sell it all. He amassed a lump sum of 196,000 francs from the sale. This moment of the sale is considered the climax of the story. From this point, the story deescalates rather