Answer:
1)
The horrible irony of the fact that the Loisels spent years paying off a replacement for what was actually a worthless necklace is just one instance of irony evident in “The Necklace.” The setting in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant influences the story, characters, and events because the action takes place in the specific locale of Paris near the turn of the nineteenth century within a specific set of social circumstances. Mathilde covets the lifestyle of the wealthy class and deludes herself into believing she is entitled to their luxuries. Her dissatisfaction and ungratefulness cause her to lose the lifestyle she had but did not appreciate. Mathilde describing her home as being shabby with 'dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains.' She dreams of grandeur but married into a solidly middle-class life with a minor official. Her dull apartment would have gone unnoticed by another lady in her social class, but she constantly focuses on the imperfections. While describing her home, Mathilde is almost swept away into a fantasy of detailing the many wonders of her dream home. Her dreams include Oriental tapestries, rare old silks, and elegant furniture.
2)
The main themes of “The Necklace” first and foremost, in my opinion, is Class Conflict as Madame Loisel, a member of lower class strives to appear to be in a higher class than she actually is, which causes conflict, but it also hints at another theme of Appearances and Reality. Madame Loisel is determined to make herself appear to be at a higher level on the social ladder than she actually is; however her desire to attain this goal leads to a display of Generosity on the part of Madame Forestier as she loans a very expensive necklace to the Greedy Madame Loisel who looses it. The necklace actually seems to be a symbol of her life, the insincerity of her character, and how her greed leads to her ultimate misery in life because she is forced to give up her own goals in life to repay Madame Forestier for the necklace she has lost, effectively ending her feeble climb up the social ladder.
Explanation:
