Exploring the Growth Through Human Choice in “The Necklace”

by | Mar 16, 2024 | ENGLISH

You must decide if you agree or disagree with the statement, then use information from the stories as evidence.  You will need to explore other sources, such as psychological or sociological sources to support your opinion.  These outside sources, with the literature, will support your initial opinion of the statement.

Please keep in mind that the focus is the literature as it applies to the statement. The outside sources will serve as additional support.

Select one of the following statements and agree or disagree, based on the literature we have read thus far.  You may select several characters to use as support for your opinion or use fewer if you go into more depth. You may even choose to one character, but you will have to go in-depth with the analysis.  The paper should be at least 1000 words with correct in-text citations and a correctly formatted Works Cited Page.

Using the literature we have read thus far as evidence and using outside sources as secondary support, agree or disagree with the following statements.  Focus on unity, support, coherence, and sentence skills in this essay with correct in-text citations and correct formatting with the Works Cited entries.

1) “People change when on the precipice of destruction.”
2) “In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.”
3) “Man is the sum of his misfortunes.”
4) “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.”

 

in short pick a statement from the following:
1) “People change when on the precipice of destruction.”

2) “In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.”

3) “Man is the sum of his misfortunes.”

4) “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.”

then choose whether you agree with that quote or not. Then relate that quote to a character from one of the stories listed below in detail
“A Rose for Emily” (by William Faulkner)
“The Story of an Hour” ( by Kate Chopin)
“The Necklace” (by Guy de Maupassant)
“Tell Tale Heart” (Edgar allen poe)
“Cask of Amontillado” (edgar allen poe)
Masque of the Red Death” (Edgar allen poe)
“The Black Cat” (Edgar allen poe)
“The Pit and the Pendulum”(Edgar allen poe)

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Exploring the Growth Through Human Choice in “The Necklace”

In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” the notion that “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice” is profoundly exemplified through the character of Mathilde Loisel. This essay will delve into the transformation of Mathilde from a discontented and envious woman to one who learns valuable lessons through her choices and experiences.

Mathilde Loisel: A Portrait of Transformation

Mathilde Loisel, the protagonist of “The Necklace,” initially epitomizes a character dissatisfied with her station in life. Her desire for wealth and luxury leads her to borrow a costly necklace, setting off a chain of events that culminate in loss and hardship. However, it is through her subsequent choices and actions that Mathilde undergoes a profound transformation.

Agreeing with the Statement

I agree with the statement that “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice,” as evidenced by Mathilde’s journey in “The Necklace.” When faced with the consequences of losing the borrowed necklace, Mathilde has a choice: to succumb to despair or to take responsibility for her actions. Her decision to confront the situation head-on and work tirelessly to replace the necklace demonstrates her capacity for growth through personal agency.

The Power of Adversity and Choice

“In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity,” another relevant statement, can be applied to Mathilde’s circumstances. Despite facing a daunting challenge due to the loss of the necklace, Mathilde seizes the opportunity to rectify her mistake through hard work and sacrifice. Her resilience in the face of adversity showcases the transformative potential inherent in difficult situations.

Lessons Learned from Misfortunes

While “Man is the sum of his misfortunes” may ring true for Mathilde in the aftermath of losing the necklace, it is her response to these misfortunes that defines her character. Rather than allowing her misfortunes to define her, Mathilde emerges stronger and wiser, having learned valuable lessons about the consequences of vanity and deceit.

Conclusion: Growth Through Choices

In conclusion, “The Necklace” offers a compelling exploration of growth through human choice, exemplified by the character of Mathilde Loisel. By examining Mathilde’s journey from discontent to self-realization, we witness the transformative power of personal agency and resilience in the face of adversity. Through her experiences, Mathilde embodies the idea that growth and self-awareness are intrinsically linked to the choices we make in life. As readers reflect on Mathilde’s evolution, they are reminded of the profound impact of individual decisions on one’s path to self-discovery and personal growth.

 

 

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