In Tuesday's class, we discussed Maupassant's champion of the realist approach to writing and his elimination of the moral judgements and long digressions used by many earlier writers. He once comments that the serious writer's goal "is not to tell us a story, to entertain or move us, but to make us think and to make us understand the deep and hidden meaning of events."
Questions for your assignment (choose one from the following questions and answer it with 250-300 words):
1) For you, what is "the deep and hidden meaning of events" that happen in "The Jewelry"?
2) Once the secret of Madame Lantin's jewelry is revealed, what details from earlier in the story take on a different significance?
3) The heroine of "The Jewelry" remains nameless throughout the story. We merely see things from her husband's point of view. If she were given a chance to tell her story, what would that be?
41 comments:
1. In my opinion, I read a story of men’s negative characters. According to the story, the readers could only know Monsieur Lantin’s point of view. When Monsieur Lantin first met his wife, he tells readers her beautiful face and gentle personality. It means he is a Male chauvinist. Moreover, he didn’t tell readers what’s the good characters of his wife. To Monsieur Lantin, beauty and obedience are the advantages he only values. Women would not agree with this kind of thinking, right? Without appearance, I believe Madame Lantin would have some advantages which M. Lantin did not discover them.
Besides, when M. Lantin found out the truth (the jewelry is real), his reaction shows his love to wife is not true love. The sorrow was covered with the anger soon. I consider although the truth is cruel, dead should be respected. I know lying is bad but every mistake should be remitted if he really loves his wife. Everything should be covered with true love. (Everyone loves romance!!!! Ha~) And if there is not real jewelry, the husband could not survival. In other words, Madame Lantin protected her husband from poverty. However, the husband did not appreciate the white lie, he sold all real jewelry out and even married another woman. The author did not tell the real situation of marrying another woman, the only sentence is “She caused him much sorrow.” It shows M. Lantin did not have a good life after married again.
Therefore, the author shows women’s status is higher than men’s. Because of hatred, M. Lantin did not live in happiness. I consider it will be better if he changes his mind and thanks his first wife. Living in hatred is hard. That’s my opinion.
3) Now, I’m Mrs. Lantin. Even though, there were many men also pursuing me, I chose to be his wife, because I did love him.
In order to let him go for his work without any chore, I did my best in the housework. The only thing I had asked him to do is to accompany me to theater. However, one day, he told me that he didn’t like the show, and he asked me to invite someone else to join the theater. I did it, because I still love him.
Therefore, I went to the theater with some men, who had volunteered to be my accompanier. They are really romantic, always gave me some lovely presents and also joined the shows very much, just like me. Although they were so kindly, I just put their presents as my collections. I didn’t accept their love, and neither told my husband, because I still love my husand.
(In this story, I didn’t see any sign shows that the wife had an extramarital relation to another man. In my opinion, I think that she didn’t really fall in love with others, or she just wanted to cover up this thing. Therefore, if she had a chance to tell her story, I think that she would always emphasize that she do love her husband.)
From my point if view, the jewelry tells us about human nature. There are several examples to show the fact. First of all, once Mr.Lantin found the jewelry is not fake jewelry, he sold them out although he felt betrayed to his wife. To maintain his income, he can not help but do it. From this point, I consider that everybody will do the same thing when you have no money to pay. What a realistic story that Guy de Mauppasant wrote!! The personality can be revealed by money. The second part is that Mr. Lantin remarried after his wife was dead. I can feel that he just did not want to be alone to go through the rest of his life. However, he was not happy. He feels comfortable and easy to get along with his ex-wife, which is such a kind, tender wife.
The theme of "The Jewelry" by Guy de Maupassant is that life can be full of irony. According to the fist paragraph, a man can betray a woman, and miss her very much. This confused me a lot -- Why people need to learn a lesson from a suffering? Although life can be composed of a number of suffering, sorrow, unhappiness. Guy de Maupassant would like to tell about the reality of life. I think that the author want to take the jewelry to reveal the truth. Moreover, the jewelry looks like a beautiful thing; in fact, it contains many ugly things just like the whole story.
(3)
"A lot of people told me Mr. Lantin was a good guy.
Mom asked me to get marry with him and then I can live in a better place at least didn’t need to worry about money. Yes, he is a very good man, I loved him very much. However, after our wedding, he always did his job in his office. I was so boring and began to watch some wonderful operas in the theater. I also liked jewelry. I try to invite him to go theater with me. He always refused me and asked me to find others to be my companions. I was angry and disappoint with him but I still loved him very much. Tell you a secret. I met someone who was very rich and infatuated with me. He wished me to accompany him for getting incredible high money. This man had charming wit and humor. How about Mr. Lantin? No humor, no wit. But I still love him. I used money what I earned to buy a lot of things for my husband. I though we seemed to live in luxury. This man also gave me lots of jewelries which I loved. My husband seemed to think all of them are fake, whatever, it didn’t need to explain reasons too much. Unfortunately, I died of pneumonia. Oh, my poor jewelry, my poor husband. He didn’t know anything about my jewelry. I saw him took them into a store, after he came out, he became a little strange. When I saw him came out of that store in the second time, he absolutely changed himself. He wanted to climb the Column Vendome, he ordered a 20 francs wine and he even passed a night in revelry and debauch. I though he knew my secret now. I felt embarrassed but I saw a comedy and felt happy from his actions. Oh, there comes a woman with terrible temper, good luck to my ex-husband.”
The heroine of "The Jewelry" is indeed a mystical woman. Maupassant doesn’t say much about her, including: how she got the valuable jewelry? Why or how she had so much money? Why she didn’t tell the truth to her husband? Did she loyal to her husband, or did she have affair(s) with someone rich? Why she still chose to hide the fact even she knew she was going to die?...
The heroine we know from the story is merely a tip of an iceberg. It is because of this opacity that leave space for imagination, and there are many possibilities behind the story. If the heroine were given a chance to tell her story, what would that be? The following is my speculation:
The story makes us feel that the heroine would be unfaithful to her husband. That means she might betray or cheat her husband. But when we use the terms such as unfaithful, this is already a moral accusation. The author didn’t make this judgment, but we readers seem unavoidable to associate with this in thinking, particularly from the very sad feeling of Lantin while he knew the jewelry is real.
But is it possible this is a wrong interpretation of his wife’s intention and behavior? His wife didn’t tell the truth didn’t imply she told a lie or lied viciously. Though we don’t know where the jewelry from, that doesn’t mean it was obtained illegally or dirty. There is a possibility she got the money by winning a lottery, for instance. And if so, Mrs. Lantin might be a very thoughtful person; she tried to avoid the sudden money impacting their simple and peaceful life. That is, she might tell a white lie to keep their life as usual to cherish and maintain that present life. Money and desire test human nature; even a lovely intimate relationship between a couple may still have difficulty to resist the temptation of interests. So there is a possibility Lantin misunderstood his wife.
No one can truly and fully understand oneself except himself. My pain is only in me and I cannot transfer it into any other’s body. Everyone is solipsistic. So even an intimate relationship there is still secret remained. And a secret doesn’t necessarily imply it must be a lie.
Maupassant flatly narrated the story without vivid moral judgments. But it is us who interpret positively or negatively on one’s behavior and try to say all that one would like. And this may be one of the enjoyments of reading fictions.
Posted by Kent, Oct 14, 2011
This story was told in only one point of view- M. Lantin’s. Therefore, there are many possibilities as to what Madame Lantin’ character really is. She may be as modest and shy as told at the beginning of the story; or maybe that modesty and shyness are not sincere, an act for the men to think she was a person of that kind.
Another thing to note is that M. Lantin’s love for his wife may or may not be as sincere as he thinks it is. From one perspective, he was betrayed by his beloved and he grieved for her for a long period of time. Imagine what it would feel like when you wept and yearn for your love and suddenly someone show you proof of he or she going around behind your back and it dawns on you that the love of your life does not love you back. You will feel bitter, betrayed, wounds yourself in a shell of denial and you might think if you were different or better that person may love you more. You doubt yourself. You might change. Then, think about it in another way. M. Lantin never truly loved his wife. Oh yes, he does love her in someway. He loves the idea of her- her modesty, her gentleness, and the idea that she was once the most sought for and he is the lucky one to have her. He does not understand her and sees the worst in her when questions surfaced.
Truthfully? I have so many conclusions thought up and I still think there might be many more I haven’t come up with. The hidden meaning, for me, is that things are never what it really seems and I should never judge anything without “getting the whole story”.
Pheonix
3.Before I married Mr.Lantin,a lot of people wanted to marry me.They always say how I good,and hoped I could notice tham.After I married,the sitution isn't still change. And I liked to go to theater very much,I have the passion for seeind performs,but I still could deal good with housework and never delaied the important thing because of it.In the theater,I have made a lot of frienfs.We have the interests.But these people are born in rich family.In order to show how they are rich, they like to buy expensive jewelry as gifts for other people.Similarily,I sent something to them at the same time,but they were not as expensive as them which I received.That is why I have much real jewelry.But it was a fault with them,it let me think we were not equal,our friendship is based on the jewelry.In fact,I didn't let my husband know it is real jewelry.I were fear that he would feel shamed of it,and forbade me to go to the theater.After all,men are always sensitive about his reputation.On the other hand,I was hesitant to whether I should tell the truth to him.If,he find all jewelry are not false,he might think I cheat on him,then fighting with me.That would damage to my marriage,so I decided to tell all thing and hoped he could forgive me.In the end,he just blame me a little.All in all,he loved me very much.
As far as I am concerned ,Mr. Lantin is a man who always see the surface of everything . Such as his marriage and his wife’s fake jewelry . So, I feel Mr. Lantin is superficial. Besides, his first wife like to collect fakes,going to see operas or movies. Even though Mr. Lantin doesn’t like his wife to do it, he should respect her hobbies and interests. We can know that Mr. Lantin doesn’t love his wife only because of her beauty. With no basic affection, the marriage will be filled with distrusts and misgivings. In the end, the marriage will be tragedy.
In real lives, money control almost anything. For example, we have to eat food, buy clothes and necessities. We can’t denied that money plays an important role in reality. But the most important thing is that we can’t be controlled by money. If our lives only leave money, we will be hollow.
Finally, I learned about treating everything from different perspectives, but not just its surface from the story. I also experience how to get along with people with honest and faith. I hope I can bridle my own life. I won’t be greedy, leading my life step by step. I believe that my future will be wonderful.
(2)
If she were given a chance to tell a story, I think it might be the following…
Unlike other people think, I have actually fallen in love with a man called Mr. Poseidon before marrying M. Lantin. Without any rebellious ability, I was forced to get along with a man I dislike; however, I need to pretend that I love him deeply. I have a liking for jewelry because Mr. Poseidon sends me a piece of jewelry every time we date. I have a passion for the theater because it’s the place where I used to date with Mr. Poseidon. Furthermore, with a view to making M. Lantin get sick of going to the theater and getting more opportunities to date with Mr. Poseidon, I asked M. Lantin to accompany me in a frequent regular basis. Finally I made it that M. Lantin will not interrupt my date with Mr. Poseidon for good. Since the day M. Lantin didn’t go to the theater with me, I have dated with Mr. Poseidon more often. Besides, the reason I can lead a luxurious life with M. Lantin is that I spend the money from Mr. Poseidon on all our household costs. So, of course, all my jewels are not faked despite the fact that I told M. Lantin they are.
Aside from things mentioned above, I also want to tell you one more thing; that is, the man I love, Mr. Poseidon, is the brother of a jewelry merchant whose store is located on the Rue de la Paix. As far as I know, all jewelry Mr. Poseidon gives me is taken from the store. By the way, do you believe in destiny? I do not believe in it. Ha, ha, ha …
By Nick 410002027
1) This is a realistic story that reflects human’s nature and life. A happy person might fell down to a valley in a night. A poor person also can rebound to top by some secrets. A couple can love each other very much but while the truth expose, it would be nothing at all.
This is an old saying describe humans selfish: “Every man for himself and the devil takes the hindmost.” Of course not everyone all likes that. But in this story, Mr. Lantin sold out these jewelries when he was poor. In that moment he didn’t think of his wife at all. All he need is money! On the other hand, Mr. Lantin’s wife cheated him that those jewelries are fake so that Mr. Lantin would not find out her secret—I think it is “unfaithful”. Although the author didn’t state that, we can guess the answer easily. She wants wealth and status even she betrays to Mr. Lantin. From the two points above, “money” can be a “drug”. Human might be cruel when they extremely need money. Human would also ignore important emotions just for money.
From this story, we learned appearance can be a “mask”. Although a woman is very beautiful and virtuous apparently, she might be vicious actually but we don’t know. In our society there is much this type of men/women. From another point of view, after Mr. Lantin controlling power, he is unhappy. But when he was just a clerk he was really happy. Maybe Guy de Maupassant wants to express a message to us—power might pollute our heart, if we can keep our heart pure and simple, it is the easiest way to happiness instead of money.
I think the deep meaning of this story; we can separate it into two parts.
First, the woman who was M. Lantin’s late wife, she means an unfeigned woman. In the beginning, she just likes a mild and modest woman. Gradually, her real surface begins to reveal. After her death, her husband is very sorrowful almost frightfully, but after his grief, he only to discover this truth.” When she is alive, how can I to pass life until her death?” Originally, his wife is early not to be faithful to him.
On the other hand, it’s to satire people’s disgusting manner in that time. People who want more and more riches to satisfy their desire to materials. So M. Lantin’s late wife is to stand for mendacious character of person in that time.
Second, M. Lantin is a grasping person in this story. However, his true character reveals gradually after section twenty three. After that M. Lantin has trouble in his daily life, he almost runs out of his salary. Then he wants to realize on her “fake” jewelry, and he finds something truth about his wife in the same time. Afterward, he becomes greed and to show people’s natural character. To squander money all the time, but he eventually is revenged by himself. Although he marriages again, this wife made his life terribly. And M. Lantin’s is to stand for greed character of person in that time.
In the end, I think this seems like a simple story, however, concluding many deep meanings. Maupassant maybe wants to alarm people not to corrupt anymore.
COMMENT BY AMY SUN
Name: Lily Wong
Student Number: 410002065
Questions: 2
The Jewelry Guy De Maupassant
2) The Jewelry tells us that life is full of irony. The story reveals how people keep secrets from one another or themselves, and reveals how people ignore a situation that upsets them. People are running away from the truth. Once the secret of Madame Lantin's jewelry is revealed, there are many scenes from earlier in the story take on a different significance. Firstly, in the beginning of the story the narrator tells us that “the young girl seemed to be the very ideal of that pure good woman….” After the secret is revealed, the “seemed to be” is likely to let the reader know the young girl was not the pure woman everyone took her for. She turns out to be unfaithful and can do anything for money. Secondly, M. Lantin only has 3500 francs for a year salary, but his wife can manage the money well and makes M. Lantin feels like living in luxury. After the secret is revealed, it shows that Madame Lantin has some secret income besides the income of M. Lantin. The luxury life of Lantin family is supplemented from Madame Lantin’s lover. Lastly, M. Lantin does not want to go to theatre with his wife and ask her to accompany with some lady-acquaintances. And Madame Lantin agrees at last. However, once the secret is revealed, we know that the reason she agrees not to ask her husband to accompany her is because she has a lover to accompany her. And this lover has bought much precious jewelry to please Madame Lantin. In conclusion, this story tells us that the ultimate irony in life. It also let us to think more deeply about the hidden meaning of the events in the story.
There is one key point of this story: the jewelry is real or fake? The jewelry signifies Lantins' marriage. On the exterior side, it seems that Mr. Lantins's marriage is filled with happiness. All men in the story must admire Mr. Lantins. But the truth is that this marriage must be a problem.
The jewelry is gorgeous, adorable but is not reliable. When the story in the begining tells us the jewelry is fake, there is a hidden meaning: Mr. Lantins's marriage is probably fail.
The recently Taiwanese film: ''The Fierce Wife'' said: When the man has an affair, he must probably treat his wife as kind as possible. Because of feeling sorry to his wife. In the story, Mrs. Lantins exhibits those stock ahead her husband and put one of them on his neck. Later then rush into his arm and kiss him furiously. This plot is really match with that film.
All the story we only realize Mr. Lantins's point of view. The author do not give Mrs. Lantins chance to explain. Maybe she didn't have any affair with anyone, those stock is just someone who appreciate her and give them to her. Maybe she discovered that she and her husband have no common anymore. Because of Mr. Lantins can't accept her interest.
In the end of the story, Mr. Lantins indeed gets a lot of money and has a family again .But does Mr. Lantins really happy? Does he still remember what he said? :''When one has not the means to afford real jewelry, one should appear adorned with one's natural beauty and grace only－and these gifts are the rarest of jewels.''
I know people think I’m charming, and lots of men want me. Actually, I do enjoy being popular. I like to hear people said that the man who gets me would be lucky. This simple sentence makes me even more popular because of men’s stupid vanity. They may think that the one who gets my heart is the winner. Now, I think that’s why you came into my life.
First time we met was at a restaurant. You came to talk to us, my husband and me. In the conversation, I found that we shared many thoughts, and I really wanted to talk more about them with you. However, I can’t show you too much in front of my husband. You may have noticed when I mentioned things that related to theater, he frowned.
After that, we dated secretly. My husband would not know in his entire life because he was too busy. You brought me to the theaters where we would see your friends. Although some of them know I am Madame Latin, they would not say anything because of your success in business. I was obsessed to the time we spent in your garden after the show. The discussion was always decent. When it was time to leave, you would give me jewelry as a gift, as the promise of your love.
However, sometimes you would ignore me. During that time I was suffered. The affection between us is forbidden, how can I contact to you? What I can do is just appreciating the jewelry and thinking of you. I cheated myself that I was not upset by laugh out loud. I put the jewelry on my husband, laughing at him, and then kiss him furiously. This is the way I miss you.
1) In my opinion, I think the whole story is talking about the human nature. In the beginning of the story, the author describes Madame Lantin as an ideal woman that seems to be the perfect woman to marry. After they get married, he finds out that she loves going to the theater and having the “false” jewelry. Here the author slightly points out that how tinsel she is, and how the man judges a woman by her appearance instead of the reality. Both of them are the mistakes that people usually make.
Then it comes to the second part of the story, the woman died of pneumonia (which is kind of satiric that she died because of her love). The author describes how broken-hearted M. Lantin is. Then, his life becomes difficult, and he makes up his mind to sell his wife’s “false” jewelry. He feels pain before he realizes that his wife has done in order to have the jewelry. He gets a reason to sell the jewelry without feeling guilty. In this part, I think he tells us that when a person finds an excuse, he/she would start to do something that would make he/she hesitate beforehand.
The last part looks somewhat crazy and hysterical after he gets lots of money. I suppose that he is degenerate because all the sad and happy things come so suddenly. When things come so fast, people often feel confused and start to do something that they wouldn’t do as they are clear. The above is my perspective, I really think this story is worth reading.
I think the heroine remains nameless throughout the story has a hidden meaning. It makes our readers can’t know the woman well. All we know comes from the husband’s thoughts. If we deeply realize the woman, I think she maybe not seems intricate at all.
She must love her husband very much. Even a man likes her and wants to pursue her, she still takes care of his husband’s life. She doesn’t shake her faith in her husband. The heroine loves the theater, and she drags her husband to the theater. But the hero is always tired after his day’s work, he refuses his wife to all those entertainments. The man who pursues her may be a rich and powerful man, so the heroine can’t refuse the man’s pursuing directly. If the hero could go there with her, the man pursuing the heroine may know she’s married at first and give up pursuing her. Another reason why the heroine keeps the jewelry may be her anxiety to jewelry is too strong to control, she knows her husband is not capable of buying luxuries. She can’t just give up on her love, the jewelry, so she takes the jewelry from the pursuer but doesn’t turn down him directly.
If she knew her husband sells all her jewelry after her death and gets angry at her, she must be regretful for concealing the jewelry from her husband and wants to explain how the jewelry comes from. But I don’t think she will tell her husband at first, if she did, she won’t have so much jewelry like now.
I think the story reveals life style in 19th.It was realism in 19th，so it shows us hypocrisy，lavish，cheat，waste，and so on.Be nationalism against Romanticism.And also because the blue blood GUY DE MAUPASSANT is，so the author showed us about High Society.And showed us in 19th，the theater is still bad ，just for making fun .The story told us Mr.Martin's wife is dishonest，and Mr.Martin didn't know his wife's true colours until he know the beginning and subsequent development of the things.And when he knew he was cheated but he became a very rich man .He was not only angry but also excited about being a rich man.At last，he spent money making fun，but is actually empty.And then he got married to the most upright of spouses.Although his first wife was wonderful in the surface so that he was extremely stunned.He finally chose a wife which was opposite toward his first wife.If I were a man，who I really want to get married?I would choose a upright wife although is boring，but at least I can trust her.Life sometimes looks good，but it is merely a false appearance.On the contrary，though life seems bad，there still are streams that can lighten us up.It was a ironic story，and we should keep it in mind.And money is not the key to happiness.There are many things that money can't buy，like a true heart.Be realistic，we can see and feel it.
In the begining of the story, Mr Lanting thought her wife was a pure girl with beautiful appearance and gentle personality. However, the modest beauty and sweet grace seemed not real when Mr Lanting found the truth. The author explained to us that Mr. Lantin was unable to continue living comfortably on his income. This clearly showed that his wife had some kind of extra income to maintain the luxury life. Also, the jewelry must be a present from someone. How could such a irresistibily grace girl accept so much money and the expensive jewerly as presents and lied to her husband?
On the other side, Mr Lanting lived an unutterable happy life with his wife in the begining. He even told his wife:"My dear, when one has not the means to afford real jewerly , one should appear adorned with one's natural beauty and grace only-and these gift are rarest of jewels." Howevre, when he realized the truth, he sold the jewels and became a rich man. I don't think that is a true love. The dishonest value seemed more important than love. Mr Lanting married another girl which quite different from his first wife, it even made his life miserable. Since it is so, why he still married the second wife that he didn't love. For his vanity ?
I think both Mr Lanting and his wife should consider more about the value between the finances and love. One should not lie to the person who you love and who loves you. It's really important.
In the beginning, M. Lantin was an economical and conservative person. However, when his wife died , he pawned his wife’s jewelry, and he became rich and luxurious.
In my opinion, it is a human nature. Everyone around the world has to work. Why do we work? Because we want to have the better life. However, we love to go ease and hate to work hard.
According to the report, someone who hits the jackpot will be poorer than past and I think this is the best example to see our lazy psychology. We all know how to waste our time, our money, but we don’t want to be down-to-earth. Someone probably chooses to gamble and dream that he may win the lottery. Someone even invests his whole savings in order to hit the jackpot. Even if he hit the jackpot, he didn’t know how to manage his money, he simply considered that he had a lot of money and he would not run out of it in his life, so he spent money like flowing water and then he would be impoverished again.
If I were M. Lantin ,I would donate all of my money to someone in need and I would not give up my job, because I didn’t think indulge in lark was what I wanted. Having a job can make my life more meaningful. Although sometimes the work would make me annoyed, I can learn something during the process. If I just played the remainder of my life, I thought my life is worthless.
BY Cathy
Today, another man sent me a pearl necklace again. Though I don’t want to admit that, but receiving gifts from other man makes me feel I am still valuable. After I am married, these jewelries come from all over the town; sometimes form other towns, too. Some of them are single, but most of them are married like me, I wonder what the purpose of this gift is? Because of these ambiguous presents, I sometimes have to tell lies to my beloved husband, Mr. Lantin.
It’s the happiest thing ever to get married to such a great man; I still love him deeply although mother is not satisfied with his salary and his property. I argued with mother and she finally gave up persuading me not to marry him. At first, life was not too bad for us. But we are always overspend when it comes to the end of the month. I love my husband and I will do everything to provide him a better and comfortable life, so I decided to sell the “presents” that other man gave to me. With money, in fact it’s a great deal of money, in my pocket I feel relieved. At the beginning, guilt surrounded me and I often had nightmares of being caught by my love. But after visiting some wealthy families, I have finally made up my mind to offer a better living standard for Mr. Lantin. I start to buy expensive wine and food that he likes, I feel satisfied when he look at the delicacies full of surprise and happiness, it worth everything.
Now, I have caught a very bad cold and I believe I won’t be able to get through this, who will take care of my love after I go? Who will……
(1)
For me,there are two the deep and the hidden meaning of events in the story － the secret that the wife has and the transition that M.Lantin has.
At first, the wife seems almost perfect. All the young man dream of entrusting his future to her. It seems that it is a huge pride to M.Lantin to merry her. But there are still two little flaws with her－her love of the theater and her passion for false jewelry. After her death , M.Lantin finds that all the jewelry are real. M.lantin starts to think hoe does his wife buy so much expensive jewelry with his meager salary and suspect his wife. The author doesn’t tell us how her wife gets the expensive jewelry. Ii reminds a riddle and let the readers think “Dose everyone just who we know? Does he or she has a totally different personality behind us?” It tells us that everyone , even the closest person, may has huge secrets.
And the transition that M.Lantin reflects an real part of human being. In the beginning, M.Lantin knows that he earns only meager salary, so he thinks that simple is best, like his wife’s simple beauty and theater is not good to go. But after he becomes rich, his thoughts start to change. He enjoys the theater because it symbols high society. He starts to go to high-quality restaurant and buy expensive wine. He totally changes his life habits just because he is a rich guy now. It can reflect that although money is not everything, it still has an incredible power to change a person.
In my opinion, the deep and hidden meaning of events in “The Jewelry” is about reality in live and human nature. Mr. Lantin’wife is a typical ideal woman for everyone. No one will associate her with a woman who likes to collect fake jewelry and go to theater because these hobbies make people think of negative personality such as vanity and greed. However, she is! How can a ordinary family have those kind of luxurious hobbies? Beneath the harmonious live, there’re mysteries surrounding them.
After his wife’s death, he finally realized how hard it was to live a life. Nobody could manage money for him and he had to do everything by his own. This bad situation gave him no choice to sell the jewelry of his beloved. I think this is also a betrayal. Knowing that he is betrayed, his sorrow radically turns into anger. And, through the process of Mr.Lantin’s selling out the jewelry hypocritically, it shows us how his mind changes into a whole different one. The human nature is coming into view completely. His desire for money wins and he becomes vainglorious and greedy. Counter to the reaction of her wife’s death at the beginning, it’s really ironic. There is no more mention about Mr.Lantin‘s love or appreciation for his wife. He had money and he married another woman. This is actually the human nature and reality what Guy de Maupassant wants to tell us. At the end of the story, the author just slightly describes Mr. Lantin’s later unhappy live with a simple short sentence just like how simple it is to deteriorate.
Everyone may have an imagination of live and love but once it runs into difficulties, it may be another different situation. Simple will be no more simple.
Shawn:
1) For you, what is "the deep and hidden meaning of events" that happen in "The Jewelry"?
In the first, I had to say that I was really confusing after reading the article initially, not only because I didn’t totally get the main point what the author said, but how complicated a people’s might be the author described.
When the story began, it looked nothing unusual, but when you got involve the situation of the story, it would really make you confused.
However, the first wife and the second wife, they did have their own characteristic, and was opposite to another. Honestly, there was no actual standard between the two women, but for audiences to draw the conclusion.
In conclusion, I though the story gave me the hint that everything might have opposite aspects and it emphasized that everything usually looked normal, but sometimes it could be deceiving and that we might usually blind to what really was going on.
In the story, I saw the human nature. In the beginning, M.Lantin thought his wife is considerate and charming. Gradually, his wife love to go to theater. And like to corrected false jewelry. After his wife dead, he needs to face the difficulties of life. He decided to sell the jewelry that his wife had. After he does that he started to change.
First, he started to doubted why his wife had so many valuable jewelry. But Maupassant didn’t tell us the reason why M.Lantin so sorrow after he knowing his wife’s jewelry is true. I thought most of us may have the same thought like M.Lantin. Even, Maupassant didn’t correct point the truth. But M.Lantin’s reaction had lead us to the thought he guessed.
Second, after M.Lantin’s wife dead that he started to sell the jewelry. If his wife did not leave the jewelry how can he live? Even M.Lantin suspects his wife, he still to face the cruel of life. I thought even the truth is cruel, but life is cruel than it. The cruel of life let M.Lantin forgot his sorrow. He chooses to sell all jewelry to let his life to maintain.
Third, after six month he married again. His second wife is different from his wife. He should be happy, but he is not at all. Why? Maybe he loves his wife than his second wife. His wife can let he have a comfortable life but his new wife made his life very miserable.I thought maybe his wife is not wonderful but she leave these jewelry to let his husband can have comfortable life. I believe that she loves his husband. If we use her mistake to comment she loves her husband or not is not fair.
Kimberley
(3) Today, I will marry him－Mr.Lantin, who is just a ordinary official. I don’t know whether I love him or not, in fact, I just desire a stable life. After I got married, I still kept enjoying my own life. I keep going to the theater, watching my favorite movie. Although my husband has told me that I should be a good wife and stay at home instead of hanging out in the theater. I keep doing such a thing, he keeps standing my behavior and taking good care of me.
As you know, I am a charming woman. I have met many different kinds of people in the theater. One day, I met Mr. White. He is a merchant, who owns a lot of precious jewelry. We have chatted with each other for several times, and then we become intimate friends. We usually go to the theater together, sharing a lot of things in our daily life. He also taught me how to invest the jewelry. I have invested successfully for several times. Gradually, I enjoy a lot not only in my favorite films, but in the sense of achievement in investing the jewelry.
I am charming but I am not healty. I afraid that I will suddenly pass away someday. Because of the successful investment in several times, I gained a lot of pearls, crystals, and many kinds of precious jewelry. In the marriage with my husband, I am not a good wife. In order to compensate for my husband, I decide that if I pass away in some day, I will leave all the precious jewelry to him.
Kenfdrick:
1) For you, what is "the deep and hidden meaning of events" that happen in "The Jewelry"?
When you first read the story, you may think it is nothing unusual. But after you read it twice, the story makes you confused.
Lantin’s wife is a typical ideal woman for everyone. But she like to collect fake jewelry and go to theaters.
After her death , Lantin finds that all the jewelry are real. He starts to think why does his wife buy so much expensive jewelry. It tells us that everyone , even the closest person, may has many secrets that we do not know.
In the story, the first wife and the second wife, they have their own characteristic, and was opposite to another. It makes the reader think which is suit to the Lantin.
Finally, we can see that appearance can be fake, and it might disturb our mind, if we can keep our mind clear, it is the easiest way to happiness.
(2)
This may have three different kinds of situations.
First, the wife didn’t know the jewelry was real, and she accept it just like accept toys. She always invited her husband to go to theater because she really loved him. She wanted her husband joined her vivid life. Because of the husband’s lazy, he want to stay at home and let her wife along to the theater. It’s dangerous. She may meet other guys who have the same interests. Finally, She may fall in love with other guys and have a secret love with the guy. The jewelry was from those who want to fall in love with her.
Second, she may not purely as how she looked. She married a poor man because the man was stupid and easy to be treated. She can have fun with other humor and wealthy guys. Playing all night long and said “having a movie with other ladies.” And the husband will believe her. She accept the presents and have fun with those guys. She have a good acting so that until she die, her husband didn’t know what she do outside.
Third, she may inherit a amazing heritage from his father. She us the money to buy what she want. She don’t want her husband know how rich is her, so she bought the jewelry and use fake name. Make money become the jewelry. She love her husband, and she don’t want her husband know they are rich and didn’t want to work anyore.
These are my opinions.
from Sidra 410002015
3. I married M.Lantin six years ago and lived a happy life.My beauty and tender pesonality made him love me!He seemed to want a simple life ,so I tried to obey his demand.I ruled the home with an economy and make ore life live in luxury.But the
life style can’t satisfy me , I had a wild enthusiasm of theater.Due to these drama made my life rich and colorful.However,my husband didn’t have the same feeling with me.He ust felt tired and bored.He refused to accompany me to go on it finally.I bowed to his request.Then the passion for it envoked in my desire of dress. I bought robes,many jewelry which ere real and expensive.My husband didn’t know the truth ahout it. I just wanted to protect our life normal and regular.However,I died of pneumonia after getting a bad cough.
Then ,his life changed.He couldn’t deal with his life and economy well and became a poor.So he wanted to sale my jewelry and found the secret!I think the shock made him reveal his real nature.A rich life and a woman witch is upright seems to he wanted.But her bad temper really makes his life miserable!
(1)After reading "The Jewelry", I find some hidden meaning behind the story.
First, after M. Lantin’s wife died, his life became hard and got a little debt. However, his wife had maintained her household very well and provided her husband with a luxurious life style. It meant his wife had another money source. Where was her money from? And, M. Lantin’s wife’s jewelry was always considered as false jewelry by him; astonishingly, her jewelry was real. It indicated that his wife was unfaithful again.
Second, when M. Lantin had no money in his pocket, the circumstances obliged him to sell his wife jewelry that he thought tinsel in former day. These things caused frightful pain to him. He started to change his personality and became debauch. In the end of the story, M. Lantin married again; although his second wife was the most upright of spouses, he was still unhappy. I think it has sarcastic meaning. Because he became the person like his first wife.
In my opinion, this is a realism story. M. Lantin born grudge against his first wife, I think he also hated himself. The reality always be cruel! I think M. Lantin’s wife loved her husband very much, but his salary wasn’t enough to support their needs. Therefore she made so terrible decision. Maybe she thought it would be not revealed forever. I like this story, because it is interesting. It lets me think my future, I would marry a man who has ability to satisfy our needs.
(3)
I fell in love with you at the first sight. You are such a gentle and handsome man.
After getting married with you, I felt happy every day, although you only made so few money that even can’t afford our luxurious life.
In order to give you the best life, I decided to investigate with money which inherited from my mother. In the beginning, I went to the theater with women in high society so that I can get the latest and the most precise information about stock. With my wise judgement, I earned considerable fortune in stockmarket. To avoid inflation, I use all money to buy jewelry. Because I think these jewelry must be more valuable in the future.
I didn’t tell you the truth about jewelry, because I didn’t want to let you concern with the risk of investments. That’why I keep this secret all the time. Never will I anticipate that you suspect me. I was really disappointed in you. By the way, I congratulate you on your second marriage.
(3)
Due to family declined and I lived with my mother only, it was very hard to maintain our life. So my mother always hoped that I could marry a good man that would improve our life. Although there were many men appreciated me and pursed me ardently, I did not want to get with anyone of them, because they were very shallow, they liked my beautiful appearance only, not my ability or my content. Soon, I met a man, Monsieur Lantin, a chief clerk in the Department of the Interior. He had a job that can supply a stable economic source, and he realized my advantages not only my beauty. My mother liked him and I also thought him was my mister right. So I became Mrs. Lantin after we recognized him three months later. I really wanted our family becoming happiness, but my husband seems though that we could live very luxurious. In order not to disappoint him, I did a lot effort in our family. Then, I found that he did not like me to go to theaters and collecting jewelry, but these two things were my most interesting things. I went to theater alone once, I met a romantic man. He was matched with me, he liked what I liked. I thought I loved him more than my husband and he did, too. He gave me much jewelry, and accompanied me to theater. We dated many times at there. Finally, I felt very regrettable to my husband, so I had drug to suicide.
3)
From the beginning of the story, I always think of the heroine as heroine. She's such adorable, glamorous and always wearing a killing-men-heart smile woman. She could divorced with her husband, and ran in someone else's hug, someone who has got more wealth, more time to spent with her, more romantic bone.
But in my opinion, she is woman who has so full of virtue that she still fulfills her responsibility and everyday duty. It’s just that she has her own way of having fun, do social work and spending leisure time. She loves her family that she settles everything fine; she gives her husband a luxurious live. She is such a great woman perfect in every aspect, even having a brilliant brain. She knows how to hold balance between having a material life and maintenance the family.
All the jewelry is about gifts, she is too alluring for men, they can’t stop thinking of her and they admire her, not for further relationship. Then why are the presents so costly? The places the woman goes are where upper classes go, no wonder things they could reach are like jewelries.
She didn’t do anything shame to her husband; she earns a great fortune at the same time. Wouldn’t that be men’s fault for giving gifts to whoever they like? Why would it be women’s mistake for receiving presents? Who says receiving gifts from men has to have done something shame?
The most ridiculous thing is that Mr. Lantin spent all his money like burnt; forget all great parts of his late wife, push himself into a miserable life.
1)I think that the true meaning of this story isn’t the way it looks like.
The story seems to be M.Lantin’s point of view . Looks like it is his wife that betray him, and all the fault contributes to her. But I don’t think so. There is something behind the words . There must be reasons that his wife does all the things without letting him know.
I think that his wife is all for her husband. M. Lantin doesn’t have a well-salary job, but they need to live. It is necessary to make more money . But how? His wife doesn’t have the ability to earn much. What she merely has is her beauty and her clever mind. So, she may use her beauty to allure other men, and let the confused men fall into her trap . I think that she is so gorgeous that she doesn’t have to do such dissolute things to grasp the men’s heart . The men might just like her and want her to be happy so they keep giving her expensive jewelry. That’s all . Her wife knows where the line is. Nothing horrible nor rebel will happen. Moreover, his wife not only prepares for their present life but also thinks of their future life or his husband’s future life. She may think that what if herself dies first . Her husband might live a hard life. She sacrifice her time and energy just want to give her husband a better life. She’s afraid that she’ll hurt her husband’s self-esteem so she always doesn’t tell the truth to him .I think that she loves her husband very much so that she choose to do everything silently. She is such a great woman that isn’t the kind of one her husband thinks .
What a story I loved it.
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