Nightmare on Rue des Martyrs

                                    Nightmare on Rue des Martyrs
                                                                          By
                                                                        Caroline Abigail Doggett

 “A greedy man brings trouble to his family,” (Proverbs 15:27). In “The Necklace,” 

Madame Loisel brought tribulation to her household all due to her ravenous and deceptive 

ways. It was her own actions that brought forth poverty and a ten year nightmare that 

wouldn't go away.

    

    

     Because she was greedy, she was unsatisfied with just a new dress. Madame Loisel had to 

have more. She declared that she was “utterly miserable at not having any jewels,” (83). 

Therefore she borrowed a spectacular diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier. 

If she had been content with what she had, she would've never borrowed the necklace in the 

first place; thus eliminating the conflict. Unfortunately, Madame Loisel was not content.

     Not only was she querulous, she was also dishonest. Instead of preparing herself for the

consequences and telling her friend that she lost the necklace, she deceives Madame 

Forestier and tells her that she has “broken the necklace,” and is “getting it mended,” (84). If 

Madame Loisel would have told the truth, she would have quickly found out that the 

necklace was an imitation and was worth “at the very most five hundred francs,” (85). 

However, that was hardly the outcome.

     Just as Proverbs foretold, Madame Loisel brought trouble to her family. Her own greed 

and dishonesty landed her and her husband in a nightmare that takes more than a pinch 

from which to awake.