Fairy tales and reality

Fairy Tales and Reality All of us read fairy tales since we were still kids. We dream about a magical world where there are always justice and happiness ever. Have any one wonder if that can be happen in the real world, I may not but the writer Guy de Maupassant did. That is why he wrote The Necklace. The story makes an illusion to the reader that they are reading another version of Cinderella. Every unrealistic magical thing is displaced by harsh reality and we will see what if there can be any real life fairy tale in this world. In “ The Necklace”, Guy de Maupassant used the image of reality to replace all unrealistic feature of a fairy tale. Mathilde Loisel is the main character of the story. Mathilde was “ one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of artisans” (Maupassant 1) but she and her husband Mr. Loisel now lived in poverty. Every day, she dreamed about a luxurious life, she wanted everyone recognized and desired her charming like other girl in her class. Maupassant wisely replaced the image of Cinderella in Mathilde. They both came from high class family but end up with harsh life, and both beauties wanted to make a change. Mathilde and Cinderella both lived in their world, separated from the surrounding. Unlike Cinderella, Mathilde made her own shell, because she ashamed of poverty and envied her friend wealthy. This is one aspect of reality compare with fairy tales; any one in her situation will feel the same. That does not mean that we should feel depressed or dreaming but this is our nature. The figure of Gad fairy mother also did not show up, in replace there was Madame Forestier, who was an old friend of Madame Loisel. Two characters, Madame Loisel and the fairy, both shared many same points. They all help the main character when she was in need. They all generously gave the main character the most valuable things the glass slipper in Cinderella and the necklace in The Necklace, and more important they both came from different world than our beauty. The fairy image was replaced by a humanistic figure made the story more related the reality which easier to be accepted so that if the story ended in unexpected way, the reader would not feel shocked but mockery. Guy de Maupassant wisely replaced all magical events by reality which also destroyed the romantic feature existed in the old story. First, there was prince appeared in the story which also meant there was no romantic and unrealistic love between two characters. Second, two stories chose the same turning point- the ball. Both Mathilde and Cinderella knew that was their only chance to make their dream come true, which was showing the world how beautiful and charming they are. The only thing that prevents them from making their dream was their outfits; they all could not afford the dress that suits their beauty. When Cinderella had a fairy by her side who always ready to help her, Mathilde only has her husband. The clothes of Cinderella came from nowhere but the magic for other world which was nothing had to be paid in return, but the clothes of Mathilde worth four hundred francs. Because of that, her husband had to give up my dream which was get a little shooting next summer on the plain of Nanterre with his friends (Maupassant 4). Even that did not satisfy Mathilde, she wanted more- an accessory that can go with her new dress. Her only friend, Madame Forestier, lend her a necklace. The author used the word “ lend” which means it had to be returned to its owner, which returned the story to original version magic would disappeared after 12o’clock. There is also one main difference in fairy tales and reality, happy ending is not always happen. Cinderella, even though, the magic was gone and she returned to her old life but she still became the Prince’s wife in the end. She did not have to care about losing one of her shoe although it was not her belonging. Mathlide did not have that luckiness. When she was in her way to avoid her husband, avoid her reality, she lost her necklace. Mathilde and her husband were going crazy about it. They knew that necklace was not cheap, actually it was much more than everything they got. This point also conveys the harshness of reality. No one or only a few would ever easily give away their precious even though they are very wealth and it is for their friend. It also gave out a hint for readers what would happen next in the story. Mathilde and her husband really suffered after that. They used ten years to pay off their debt for buying a new necklace. The price for having her dream came true was so heavy that totally changed Mathilde not only her appearance but also her insight. After ten years, “ she had become like all the other strong, hard, coarse women of poor households” (Maupassant 9). Her proud beautiful look went away with ten years of hard working and poverty. Madame Loisel did not feel ashamed when she met her friend Madame Forestier because she now lived with her reality and her dream was also gone. The unforgettable ball was only in her memory, it would never return again. Using only his words and imagination, Guy de Maupassant translated a famous fairy tale into reality language. In the end of the story, Maupassant used Madame Forestier to reveal the truth that the necklace was only worth five hundred francs. This fact made ten years of Loisel family wasted. It was a mockery and punishment to Mathlide or those who were only living in the unrealistic dream instead of trying the best to get out of their difficult situation. In addition, the author also sent a message to us that everything cannot be justified by their appearance. Even though how beauty their look, there is insight is very cheap just like the necklace and Madame Mathilde.