B. Reading Activity

Vanity and Pride

Narrator:
Madame Loisel was a pretty girl born into a poor family. She had no expectations and she felt so trapped by her situation that she married a litt le clerk in a goverment office. Her tastes were simple because she had never been able to afford any other, but she was as unhappy as though she had married beneath her status; for women have no caste or class, their beauty, grace, and charm serving them for birth or family. She suffered endlessly, feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury. She suffered from the poorness of her house, from its bare walls, worn chairs, and ugly curtains.

Scene 1

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Sweetheart, I have a surprise for you.

MADAME LOISEL: Really, what is the surprise?

MONSIEUR LOISEL: See for yourself.

(He places the invitation on the table.)

Swiftly she tears open the envelop and draws out a printed card and reads out "The Minister and Madame Ramponneau request the pleasure of the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel at the Ministry on the evening of Monday, January the eighteenth."

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Isn't it wonderful?

MADAME LOISEL: What do you mean? What can I with it?

[She tosses the invitation onto the table.]

MADAME LOISEL: I have nothing suitable to wear to this glamorous occasion.

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Why.., Why, you can wear your theater gown, of course. It's really quite suitable.

[Madame Loisel breaks into tears.]

MONSIEUR LOISEL: What's the matter? Why are you crying?

MADAME LOISEL: I'll be humiliated in that old gown. It's so tattered and completely out of style. I can't go to the ball wearing that rag.

[Monsieur Loisel paces and thinks.]

MONSIEUR LOISEL: There must be a way! How much do you think a suitable gown would cost? Something very simple but elegant as well, of course.

MADAME LOISEL: I'm not too sure, but maybe 400 francs.

MONSIEUR LOISEL: I've been saving and I think I have just about 400 francs, you could take it to buy a gown.

Scene 2:

MONSIEUR LOISEL: You make any dress come to life, my dear. How ravishing you look!

MADAME LOISEL: [Pouting and whining] But I'll be disgraced!

MONISEUR LOISEL: Disgraced? What can you possibly mean? You will be the most beautiful woman there!

MADAME LOISEL: You just don't understand! It's so annoying! I don't have a single piece of jewelry to wear with my gown.

MONSIEUR LOISEL: There is one thing, one possibility that you've forgotten.

MADAME LOISEL: [sniffs.] What's that?

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Your old classmate! Madame Jeanne Forestier! She is really well off. I'm sure she would be willing to lend you some her jewelry!

MADAME LOISEL: [Her sniffs turn into laughter and joy.] Of course! I can borrow something suitable from JEanne. Thank you, darling.

NARRATOR:
Madame Loisel was absolutely smashing! She was prettier than any of the other women: elegant, graceful, smiling and wild with joy. Everyone noticed her, and her husband's boss seemed to want every dance with her!

Scene 3:

MADAME LOISEL: [Looking in mirror.] Oh my God! Oh no, oh no. I... I have... Oh my God, this can not happen!

MONSIEUR LOISEL: What? What is it?

MADAME LOISEL: I have lost Madame Forestier's necklace!

MONSIEUR LOISEL: It can't be true! It's impossible!

[They begin frantically searching through their coats and clothes, and on the floor.]

MADAME LOISEL: Oh God, help us!

MONSIEUR LOISEL: It must be here somewhere. Necklaces don't just evaporate.

[Madame Loisel begins weeping and sobbing as she searches.]

MONSIEUR LOISEL: I shall go back on foot, over the entire route, to see whether or not I can find it.

[He rushes out. Madame Loisel sinks into a chair, sobbing. After more than an hour he comes back.]

MADAME LOISEL: Did you find it? Tell me! Did you?

MONSIEUR LOISEL: [Remains silent]

MADAME LOISEL: Did you find it or not?

MONSIEUR LOISEL: I am afraid not.

Scene 4:

NARRATOR:
Madame Loisel didn't tell Madame Forestier that she lost her necklace and she chose to replace it. The replacement cost them everything. Madame Loisel came to know the ghastly life of abject poverty. Their revious life seemed down right luxurious compared to what they had now.

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Matilda, my love. I have made the last payment on our debt. We have nothing left for ourselves, but at least we are free from the loon of 20,000 francs.

MADAME LOISEL: Free at last.

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Look! Isn't that Madame Forestier over there? You have not spoken to her since that day. Go talk to her.

MADAME LOISEL: Uh... Hello. Good day.

MADAME FORESTIER: You must have mistaken me for someone else. Excuse me please...

MADAME LOISEL: Jeanne, don't you recognize me? It's me, Matilda.

MADAME FORESTIER: Matilda? But it can't be. You look so worn and old.

MADAME LOISEL: No really, it's me. I've changed because I have had to endure ten hard years of manual labor, scrubbling floors and taking in laundry.

MADAME FORESTIER: My dear, what could have happened to make you do that?

MADAME LOISEL: It was your necklace, or rather my desire to be elegant, that caused this.

MADAME FORESTIER: But how is that possible? I have the neckalce. I wore it to the theater just the other night.

MADAME LOISEL: The necklace you have is actually just a replacement. I'm afraid that I lost yours. We borrowed money to purchase a replacement and have spent the past ten years paying off the debt, but today, we have made the last payment.

MADAME FORESTIER: Ten years? Surely it could not have taken that long to pay off the amount needed to replace the necklace?

MADAME LOISEL: What do you mean?

MADAME FORESTIER: Mine was a fake; the replacement should have cost you nothing more than 500 francs. Oh, my poor, poor, dear Matilda.

C. Post-Reading Activity

Discussion Questions

Read the questions carefully. Note down your opinions and reactions to the questions. During the discussion with your teacher and classmates, offer your personal reaction and understanding of the text.

In the beginning of the play, Madame Loisel was very. sad and unsatisfied. Why was she sad and unsatisfied? What did she want? Support your answer with examples from the play.