Loyalty In Guy De Maupassant's The Neck

In Guy de Maupassant’s “The Neck”, the reader is confronted by the consequences of Madame Loisel loss of the necklace with the possibilities of losing oneself in the process. Set in Paris during the 1800s, conflicts arose between issues of society and social standing. The main character Marthilde plunges under the pressures of society, but also her and husband gamble for their lives for ten years to pay off their debts. Through the use of literary elements, Madame Loisel’s life portrays the inner struggle of being dishonest with oneself and the effects society has on the middle-class citizens. Social status controls the pulse of our society; not to mention, time is limited and greed consumes the mind for an eternity. “For women recognize neither caste...their beauty, grace, and charm serve… family/ instinct for elegance, a sparkling wit; these alone define their social status…” (De Maupassant, 609). Time and greed each correspond to the pressure Marthilde went through to hold a higher status. After she buys a new dress for the ball, greed presents itself in the form of a worthless piece of jewelry that in the end tears apart her life for ten years. …show more content…
There is an understandable relationship between Sammy and Marthilde, they both want something more out of life. Sammy doesn’t want to have a dead end job for the rest of his small life, so he quits his job right on the spot. The reason for Sammy quits his job could correspond to the girls in their bathing suits or the blinding affect to be someone greater than oneself. Marthilde who is so distort by the conditions she lived that she images a better standard of living. “ She would image gleaming reception rooms rich with oriental draperies, lit… men who were well known and much in demand, whose company and attentions all women envied and admired” (De Maupassant,