THE PRICE OF BOURGEOIS DREAMS: MARXIST ELEMENTS IN MAUPASSANT’S THE NECKLACE

Abstract

This research article examines the Marxist elements in Guy de Maupassant's short story The Necklace through the lens of Marxist literary criticism. The study aims to identify the portrayal of powerful (bourgeoisie) and powerless (proletariat) classes, analyze how economic conditions shape human life and happiness, and explore the ideological control exercised by the ruling class. The research adopts a qualitative, interpretative methodology, which is suitable for the analysis of literary texts in their natural setting. Data is collected from secondary sources including books, journals, magazines, and online sources. The theoretical framework is drawn from Dobie's Marxist analytical model, which posits that general human life is determined by economic conditions, that society is structured by the means of production into bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers), and that this division creates hierarchies of power and economic slavery. The findings reveal that The Necklace presents a capitalist society sharply divided into two classes: the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production and enjoy material luxuries, and the proletariat, represented by Mathilde Loisel, who suffer constant humiliation and misery due to their lack of economic resources. The story further demonstrates that happiness is falsely equated with material possessions, and that the bourgeoisie not only exploits the working class economically but also creates dominant values and standards that the proletariat cannot afford, leading to devastating consequences. The study concludes that The Necklace serves as a strong critique of capitalist society, exposing how economic conditions determine human suffering, class struggle, and the ideological manipulation that perpetuates inequality and injustice.