In the case of "The Necklace" by French author Guy de Maupassant, Mathilde Loisel takes advantage of her husband's, M. Loisel's, want to fulfill her wishes of riches and social escalation. Because of pride, Mathilde Loisel neglected to tell Mme. Forestier that she had lost the diamond necklace that was borrowed. In the end, both M. and Mme. Loisel take on massive debt to replace the necklace, and remain in unnecessary debt for ten years. In "The Necklace", Guy de Maupassant uses an observant tone, diction and syntax, imagery, and symbolism to clearly illustrate the positive and negative effects of pride.

Through the use of an observant tone, Guy de Maupassant illustrates the central message of pride. By the way the author phrases the words in his story, it is easily recognized that Mme. Loisel believes she is better than others. For example, "She let herself be married to a little clerk at the Ministry of Public Instruction". Just the phrase "she let herself" clearly shows how powerful Guy de Maupassant wants the reader to interpret Mme. Loisel, considering she wouldn't have had a choice in this place in time (de Maupassant, 33). Mme. Loisel's power is solely how highly she thinks of herself, and the guileful emotions she plays on her husband. Guy de Maupassant also seems detached from the piece, never showing judgment based on Mme. Loisel's greediness, or pride. This can be shown by the authors third person approach, and his knowledge of both upper class, and lower class lifestyles. This not only allows Mme. Loisel to be judged by the reader, but also allows the reader to pity M. Loisel and his attempts to make his wife happy. Another example of pride can be one earned without the hard work needed to earn something, or given something worth value, "And she smiled with a joy which was proud and naive at once", Mme. Forestier had been returned a necklace, a necklace that she originally knew was to be fake (de Maupassant, 39). However, when M. and Mme. Loisel lost the necklace they believed the diamonds were real, and had replaced it with a more expensive replica. When Mme. Forester was told she was given a sense of pride many feel when they are given something without the exchange of labor. This can be proven from "Mme. Forestier, strongly moved, took her two hands", Mme. Forestier's movement shows how gaining something of worth effected her mood and then directly effecting her motions, body language. The observing nature of de Maupassant's tone was transcended her basic, superficial thoughts in the beginning, including Mme. Loisel's pride in her looks, and materialistic values to pride in honored exertion, by ending her debt.

The use of diction and syntax strengthens the authors claim at the theme of the writing, pride. The sense of pride in "The Necklace" doesn't always carry a negative connotation, in fact, paying of the debt brought on by the necklace, gave Mme. Loisel a different sense of pride. Her pride transitions from that of her beauty and self-worth to a sense of pride brought on by her own hard-work and accomplishment. "She took her part, moreover, all of a sudden, with heroism. The dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay it", this word choice gives the reader the idea of responsibility from Mme. Loisel (de Maupassant, 38). Although the debt diminished the looks that Mme. Loisel was once so proud of, true poverty teaches real pride.

Guy de Maupassant's central message is furthered with his use of imagery in "The Necklace". The author uses Mme. Loisel's beauty in many different ways throughout the story. One of the most effective, however, is how de Maupassant diminishes her looks, but giving her a new, yet more fulfilling sense of pride. "She had become the women of impoverished households-strong and hard and rough. With frowsy hair, skirts askew, and red hands, she talked loud while washing the floor with great swishes of water". The author clearly states how a once beautiful and selfish women transformed into a worn-out, pride-stricken one. Although the author uses many different techniques, through the use of imagery the author clearly shows the physical effects of pride, and how pride can transcend the physical.

Symbolism is another technique Guy de Maupassant uses to teach the reader the differences between receiving and earning pride. The symbolism in "The Necklace", is clearly the necklace. The "diamond" necklace represents wealth, physical characteristics, or something that Mme. Loisel is not. However, the actual diamond necklace, which was more valuable, represents hard-work, and pride. Through the work both M. and Mme. Loisel had to endure, it got them a real diamond necklace, or taught them a sense of accomplishment. Whereas, Mme. Forestier, who had gained the necklace solely based on a lie gained false pride, without hard-work one simply receives just an item, and not what it represents. "And for this we have been ten years paying. You can understand that it was not easy for us, us who had nothing. At last it is ended, and I am very glad", although simply could be interpreted as glad the debt is over, it can also be interpreted as Mathilde is finally happy with what she has, and is finally appreciative (de Maupassant, 39). The symbol of the necklace obviously displays the differences between gained and earned pride.

Through a decade of misfortune and debt brought Mathilde pride. With the use of tone, diction and syntax, imagery, and symbolism, the readers insight on pride is expanded. "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant teaches not only the different forms of pride but the benefits of hard-work.

