In "Le Collier", Guy de Maupassant uses the setting to reflect the character and development of the main character, Mathilde Loisel. As a result, his The setting is not particularly vivid or detailed. He does not even describe the unfortunate necklace – the central object of the story – but only states that it is "superb" (7). related to the first apartment, the dream life rooms, the attic and a fashionable public street [This is a well-defined thesis statement.] Details of the Loisels' modest apartment on the street. of the Martyrs testify to Mathilde's sullen inadequacy with life Even though everything is functional, she is unhappy with the "dull" walls, "worn" furniture and "ugly" curtains (5). simple country girl who does household chores around the apartment Her embarrassment and discontent are evident in the details of her poorly cleaned tablecloth and in the simple, inelegant beef stew that her husband adores. Even her best theater outfit, suitable for apartment life but inappropriate for richer surroundings, makes her unhappy. All these details of the apartment establish that Mathilde's major trait at the beginning of the story is inadequacy. She therefore seems unpleasant and unsympathetic. Like the actual apartment, the incredibly rich setting of his daydreams of owning a mansion reinforces his unhappiness and avoidance of reality. All the rooms of his fantasies are large and expensive, draped in silk and filled with the finest furniture and bric-a-brac. M...... middle of paper ...... on the Champs-Elysées is very much in character, in keeping with his earlier daydreams about luxury. Other details of the story also have a similar bearing on Mathilde's character. For example, the story presents few details about the party scene, beyond the assertion that Mathilde is a great "success" (7), a judgment that shows her ability to shine if given the chance. occasion. After she and Loisel come to terms with the fact that the necklace is nowhere to be found, Maupassant includes details about Parisian streets, visits to loan sharks, and jewelry stores in order to bring out Mathilde's sense of honesty and pride while that she is “heroic”. prepares to live his new life of poverty. Thus, in "The Necklace", Maupassant uses the setting to emphasize Mathilde's inadequacy, her unnecessary misfortune, her loss of youth and beauty, and finally her growth as a responsible human being..