Draft Three~
Eileen Chen
2007-5-22
Draft three
What is the major cause of Losiel’s tragedy?
Introduction:
“The Necklace”, as one of the most famous representitive works of Guy de Maupassant, tells a story that happened in late nineteenth-century with a social background of strict hierarchy system. Mathilde Losiel is the main character in the story who is of relatively humble birth at that period.The story is about Losiel’s mistake of loosing a gorgeous necklace she borrowed from her friend after a party in which she “made a great success” by her perfect appearance. Although at the end of the story, that necklace turned out to be a fake one, Losiel and her husband paid heavy price---they worked day and night for 10 years to pay back all the debt.The story seemed to be like a tragedy for Losil and people always blame her for her vanity to be a shinning star at that upper-class ball which ,in their minds, does not belong to her ,or to say, her class. They think that what she did makes the result reasonable. However, personally,I still have doubt on that thought. I cannot help sprouting a question:Is Losiel’s vanity really the major cause of her tragedy? As to it,basically, I will not hesitate a moment to say “no” .
After browsing “The Necklace”,written by Guy de Maupassant, it is common that most readers will form such a view---Greed and a total lack of rational faculty should be regarded as the major cause leading to Losiel’s harsh tragedy. However, to get a more objective understanding, I insist that we should go deeper into the story and actually, from my point of view, I firmly believe that class distinctions,instead of Losiel’s vanity should be responsible for her misery. Is it really the case? If you really feel uncertain about that, please follow me and let’s check it out!
First and foremost, thinking from a different aspect we may find out, at that time, social system did play an essential role in the whole story and finally made the sad ending inevitable. As to this, why not come back to the background of the story. “ ‘The necklace’, is set in late nineteenth-century Paris, where society was organized on a class basis.” (38) Yes, actually that is a period of time when people were born with some unchangable class, no matter hwo hard they work on it. So, from my angle alone, that unique background, to some extent, resulted in the formation of Losiel’s character unconsciously. That is to say, making Losiel’s vanity the responsible factor concerning to the tragedy is but a superficial way to judge the cause. Just as what is said in the story, “She(Losiel) was one of those pretty and charming girls who are sometimes, as if by a mistake of destiny, born in a family of clerks”(38). So if trying to ponder it over and over again, we can easily reach an agreement that ,in reality,it is the class distinction that forces Losiel to do so but not her own character. From other perspective, maybe we had better say Losiel herself is also the victim of that cruial and severe class system. Pretty is her nature gift from God , blue blooded is a dream inside every pretty girl’s heart and Losiel is just no exception. Given to this, how can we have the heart to blame her anymore for such a pardonable desire. She was not willing to bother anyone or to pursue anything evil . On the contrary, in my eyes, she was just a poor girl who kept trying to realize a dream of being Cinderella. What desevers to be blamed?
Besides, considering the background of the story we can also reveal that the class distinction has a great affluence on not only Losiel’s character but also the atmosphere of the whole society. That,in my opinion, makes what Losiel did more understandable. Let’s prove it from the invitation of the party, “it is very select, everyone wants to go” (39) From the description, we can clearly see that people at that time were tied closely to the strict hierarchy system,trying every means to get rid of their humble birth. They were in pursuit of the approval by upper-class, even in some self-deceiving ways such as equiping them with luxury articles to which they may not be able to afford. Supposed you lived in the same society upholding wealth, are you dare to promise you would make a complete different choice that may be widely-acknowledged as “natural” and “reasonable”. That is to say, in fact, it is the trend of the society that eventually results in the tragedy and the trend, I think, origins from the class distinctions at that ear.
Last but by no means the least, as opposed to widely-held idea, I have positive attitude towards this lady. In my mind, I believe that hidden inside every girl is a fantasy to become a graceful, adorable lady with a wealthy background. It’s really something common that we have no reason to blame to. What in reality causes the sad ending is the class system in that cruel society instead of Mathilde herself. She is a common girl but sadly a slave of the rich flamboyant upper-class at the same time. “She would so have liked to please, to be envied,to be charming, to be sought after.”(39) She tried to make some changes confronting to the harsh reality, the humble background, the precise hierarchy at that special time. From my side, that’s nothing we should critisize and I’d rather regard her as a symbol of honest, brave, adorable people rather than a coward or a thief. She took lessons and made compensation with 10-years hard-working.How tough-minded she is! Despite the fact that she failed in the merciless society, I still cannot agree the idea that considering Loseil’s vanity as the major cause of the misery. Actually, in my heart, she deserves appreciation!
All in all, every evidence stated above points out an undeniable conclusion that it is the class distinction but not Losiel’s vanity that should shoulder the responsibility for the tragedy. On no account can we make her the scapegoat any more!
