Ironic Irony In The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant

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Have you ever said, “I wish I knew then what I know now”? This is an idea “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant gives the reader, inducing a laugh in either shock or pity. The story’s theme of ironic honesty guides a complex character, plus two simple characters, from egotistical self-serving to a self-sacrificing individual.
“The Necklace” begins with a young bride Madame Loisel. She along with her husband, Monsieur Loisel, are not poor but live comfortable; nevertheless, Madame Loisel dreams of finer things. Madame Loisel borrows a beautiful necklace from Madame Forestier for a party she is attending. Madame Loisel loses said necklace during the party. She and Monsieur Loisel replace the necklace without informing Madame Forestier they ever lost it, forcing them into a steep debt. After ten long years of hard labor from Madame Loisel and never-ending work for Monsieur Loisel, they repay the debt. Madame Loisel eventually comes across Madame Forestier and decides to tell her the truth. Madame Forestier informs Madame Loisel the original necklace was worth less than a fraction the amount they paid for the replacement.
The theme presents itself on the very last sentence of the story when Madame Forestier divulges the truth about the cost of the necklace stating "Oh, my poor …show more content…
Instead of telling the friend she and her husband bought a new one, forcing themselves into unbelievable debt in order to keep their secret. Madame Loisel maintains her complexity throughout the story. De Maupassant describes her transition from a pretty girl to looking “old”, writing “she had become like all the other strong, hard, coarse women of poor households. Her hair was badly done, her skirts were awry, her hands were red. She spoke in a shrill voice” (para. 18). Here Madame Loisel shows her self-sacrifice in order to help re-pay the debt of the necklace, with her husband Monsieur
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