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Introduction
Do you ever read short story that has a complicated plot structure? It
makes us want to reread again until we got clear explanation about plot of the
story. The story entitle The Diamond Necklace by Guy De Maupassant is one of
short story that has complicated plot structure. At the first expression, it look like
love story because at the beginning of the story the writer mention there are girl
was one of pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born from it
we can conclude it is love story, but when we reread again the exactly meaning of
story is about unsatisfied woman about her life. I choose this story for being my
analysis because it make me confuses to understand about the plot structure in this
story. It uses the symbolic meaning, imagery and an irony in the story. That is why
I choose this story.
2. Synopsis
The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who was
born named Mathilde Loisel was married to a little clerk of the Ministry of Public
Instruction. They live poor, which Mathilde don not like. One evening, her
husband reach home with a large envelope in his hand. The envelope is about the
invitation to the ball, which they rich people will be. Madam Loisel look unhappy
with the invitation because she do not have gown. Mathilde buy a gown from her
husband saving intended to buy gun for him hobby. The day of the ball drew near,
Mathilde has pretty gown, but Madam Loisel seemed sad because her do not have
a piece of jewelry. She borrowed diamond necklace from her friend Madam
Forestier. At the ball, Madam Loisel look prettier than any woman there. When
she arrived home after the ball, Madam Loisel discover that the diamond that she
borrowed from her friend has gone. She and her husband try to find it, but they
never find it. Madam Loisel and her husband try to replace the diamond with the
same one like Madam Loisel has gone, for thirty-four thousand francs, from the
original price forty thousand francs. She used her husband inheritance, borrowed
from the other and work for odd job for ten years. After one decade, Madam
Loisel seem Madam Forestier. Madam Loisel look old than Madam Forestier,
Madam Loisel tell to Madam Forestier that the necklace that she return was a
replacement, Madam Forestier is shocked and tell her that the necklace she lent
her was fake, worth at most five hundred francs.
3. Review Theory
The literacy element that would be analyze in short story The Diamond
Necklace by Guy De Maupassant are plot structure of the story, character and
characterization, point of view, character revelation, and theme.
3.1 Plot Structure
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It
shows arrangement of events and actions within a story. According to
Perrine (1959:61), for example, defines plot as the sequence of incidents
or events of which a story is composed. While Connolly (1955:6) call it
the arrangement of details and incidents in a story. Aristotles concept that
divided plot has beginning, middle and an end.
At the beginning, there are exposition and rising action. Exposition
is part of plot where the character are introduce, setting, and the condition
of the characters. However, rising action is part of story that begins to
develop the conflict.
At the middle, there is turning point of the story that call as climax.
Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main
character will change in some way. The climax usually leaves readers on
edges of their seats.
At the end, there are falling action and resolution. Falling action is
result from the climax. In the falling action the tension are decrease. On
the other hand, resolution is part of plot structure when the problem solve
and indicate the end of the story.
According to Francis Connolly (1955:8) states that one of the chief means
the short story writer employs to organize his action is point of view, i.e.
they way an author chooses to tell his story. It can be a first-person
observer, a first-person observer-participant, a third person with a limited
range, and a third person with unlimited range (the omniscient point of
view). Connolly proposes hiss distinction as follows:
3.5 Theme
Theme is what a story is about. The theme of fiction is its controlling idea
or its central insight (Perrine, 1959:137). Perrine further states that it is the
unifying generalization about life stated or implied by the story.
4. Analysis
4.1 Plot
a. Exposition
This short story tell about the girl was one pretty and charming young
creatures who sometimes are born named Matilde Loisel who is married to
a little clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction. She dressed plainly
because she could not dress well, but she was unhappy as if she had really
fallen from a higher station; since with woman there is neither caste or
rank, for beauty, grace and charm take the place of family and birth. She
had no gowns, no jewels, nothing
.
b. Rising Action
One evening, her husband reach home with a large envelope in his hand.
The envelope is about the invitation to the ball, which they rich people will
be. Madam Loisel look unhappy with the invitation because she do not
have gown. Mathilde buy a gown from her husband saving intended to buy
gun for him hobby. The day of the ball drew near, Mathilde has pretty
gown, but Madam Loisel seemed sad because her do not have a piece of
jewelry. She borrowed diamond necklace from her friend Madam
Forestier. At the ball, Madam Loisel look prettier than any woman there.
When she arrived home after the ball, Madam Loisel discover that the
diamond that she borrowed from her friend has gone. She and her husband
try to find it, but they never find it. Madam Loisel and her husband try to
replace the diamond with the same one like Madam Loisel has gone, for
thirty-four thousand francs, from the original price forty thousand francs.
She used her husband inheritance, borrowed from the other and work for
odd job for ten years.
c. Climax
After one decade, Madam Loisel seem Madam Forestier. Madam Loisel
look old than Madam Forestier, Madam Loisel tell to Madam Forestier that
the necklace that she return was a replacement, Madam Forestier is
shocked and tell her that the necklace she lent her was fake, worth at
most five hundred francs.
d. Falling Action
Madam Loisel realized that the necklace that she has gone it was fake and
worth at most five hundred francs.
e. Resolution
Finally, Madam Loisel borrowed money from the other and work odd to
replace the diamond that she has gone, it make Madam Loisel become rich
for a moment, but after she return the necklace she become poor again.
The effort of Madam Loisel to return the necklace is useless because the
necklace is fake and worth at most five hundred francs.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, the plot structure of the story The Diamond Necklace are:
in exposition, there is the girl was one of those pretty and charming young
creatures who sometimes are born named Mathilde was married to a little
clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction. In the raising action, Madam
Loisel lost the necklace that she borrowed from her friend, Madam
Forestier. In the climax, Madam Forestier tell about the diamond that she
lead to Madam Loisel was fake and it was worth at most only five hundred
francs. In falling action, Madam Loisel realized that the necklace that she
has gone it was fake and worth at most five hundred francs. In the
resolution, Madam Loisel effort to brought back the necklace that she
borrow from her friend, Madam Forestier is unless because the diamond
was fake and it was worth at most only five hundred francs. In this short
story, there are 3 character, Madam Loisel, Monsieur Loisel, and Madam
Forestier. This story used the limited omniscient point. In the character
revelation, Madam Loisel is a selfish person and she always unsatisfied
with her life. the theme of this story is about social conflict.
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