Final Timed-writing

0556127

Carol Xie

June 21, 2007

Timed-writing Three

Directions: From The Necklace, what might have been the quality of Mme. Loisel’s life if she had not lost the necklace? Is her life better or worse now?

In The Necklace, the famous author set the plot that Mathilde lost the necklace which was borrowed from Mme. Frontier, and then the whole thing changed her life a lot. She lost the necklace, as well as her youth, and her beauty, because of the ten years of hardship. But besides, she also gained something – something much more important than her loss.

What might have been the quality of Mme. Loisel’s life if she had not lost the necklace? It is very difficult to imagine that. But it is certain that Mathilde’s vanity would have been lasting in her life, until one day she received some other punishment. Maybe she would have been much happier at the very beginning, as she realized her dream in the ball – she was so beautiful, so noticeable and became the focus of almost all the people there. She would have had a short period to enjoy that whole night. But when time went on, Mathilde would have felt unhappy again, as no one can always be living in memory. Her life situation would not have some striking change. After a short period of happiness, she would return to the state of her former life, which had been filled with complain, sadness, and unsatisfactory.

It is obvious that that kind of life cannot be called a high-quality one. In my opinion, losing the necklace is very important in Mathilde’s life, not only because she suffered from the hardship and lost something that she once valued a lot, but also because she learned something very precious – that’s the true meaning of the life. During the hardship, she could realize that life is much more than making herself beautiful, and dreaming of the luxury. Getting rid of the vanity, she would find life much lovelier than before, though she had already lost beauty and youth. She would felt satisfied with the current life, or even grateful. Then the life condition would be totally fresh, as satisfactory can lead to happiness. But if she had not lost the necklace, her living way would not have changed. Overwhelming by vanity, Mathilde can only have a meaningless life.

Then comes the answer. If Mme. Loisel had not lost the necklace, her life would have been worse. The losing necklace is the turning point for her. After the hardship, a better life would be there and waiting for her.

24.5.07 14:57