LITERARY CRITICISM “Analysis Guy de Maupassant “The Necklace” with Semantics Theory by Rolland Barthes” PAPER BY LIVIA OCTAVIANI JUFRI NIM : 16924026 ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT 2019 Analysis Guy de Maupassant “The Necklace” with Semantics Theory by Rolland Barthes Guy de Maupassant is the writer of short stories and also novels from French that have so many famous short stories in French. In this short story, Guy de Maupassant is telling about a girl that has so many expectations about her life. She is pretty and also charming, but her fate is not as good as her appearance. She is suffering because she is a middle class in the greatest and famous country. She is being humiliated by herself, she always feels like she does not have good enough things in her life because she always values a things by the appearance. She lives in a life that never has some grateful, even when she's not a poor woman, but she always thinks that everything is not enough for her. At the end of the story it is shown that not every expensive thing can price the life, it is also the turning point of this short story that breaks Madame Loisel perspective and also her dissatisfaction about life. In this analyzing, I will use semantics theory from Rolland Barthes. Rolland Barthes tells that semiotics is about how sign and photograph represent different cultures and ideologies in different ways. Sign and symbols are also used to communicate and develop an interpretation, we can say semiotic is an observant of sign and symbol. Semiotics is a study that tells about significant part of communication. Rolland Barthes also says that in a symbol or sign there are denotation and connotation meaning, which tell about the perspective and what is the real meaning of its sign or symbol. Like for denotation is tell about a literal meaning of sign and connotation is tell about a suggested meaning of the sign in cultural conventions and its associated with the sign itself. There are many symbols and signs that used in the Guy de Maupassant “The Neckless” short story, thats the reason why the writer will analyze this short story with semiotics theory. The analysis will tell in the list. • Black Satin Case : It symbolizes a case for an expensive thing in it, if we buy something expensive in the mall or a high-level shop, it will be cover with a black satin case. • Diamond necklace : It symbolizes a king of gems it shows endless potential powers that always have a high price and symbolize the property to the person that has it. • Prettiest woman : It already tells in this story that prettiest woman will have an elegant, graceful and glamour appearance. • Waltz : When we read or hear a waltz its always have a meaning about ballroom dance, the step of the dance and a glamour situation in the ball. • Dance: It symbolizes a happy atmosphere, laugh and many people, it also showed the situation which is cheerful and also powerful. • Feminine heart : It always symbolizes a tenderness, woman and also graceful • 4 O’Clock in the morning : It symbolizes the late night time, they enjoy the party so much until they forget to come home. • Artisan : It showed a middle until low-class labor that have to work with their hands to making something, it always need a long time to make it but have a low paid payment. • Tapestries : It symbolizes the elegant, glamour, and expensive things or furniture in the luxury home. • Faery forest : It is shown Madame Loisel imagination that almost seems like an impossible thing to happen • Rosy fresh of trout : It symbolizes the menu for the rich people and a luxurious menu in the fancy restaurant. • Dress : It symbolizes attraction, passion, purity and also beauty. • Party : Reflect the energy, excitement, behavior and also good mood. • Franch : It takes a place in Franch that also symbolize a country with love, luxury, elegant and beautiful view, and buildings. • Jewelry : It symbolizes a culture, social status and also beauty. • Single stone : It means that Madame Loisel doesn’t have anything left, even one. • Flower : The Madame Loisel here make a symbolize that wear flower as a piece of jewelry can make other people think that she is poor. • Pearl necklace : It symbolizes purity, fertility, and also the circle of life. • Furs : It symbolizes fancy and classy coat that cost a lot of money. • Polais Royal Shop : From the name of the shop symbolizes the great buildings in French that it means they sell expensive and valuable items. • 40 thousand franch : For a rich people it must not a large amount, but for poor people, it can be their half of life to collect that mouth of money. • Loise : This also symbolizes the places which are France that have popular kings that name Louise, it also because so many people in France have those name. • Chilly voice : Here is symbolize the wrathful from Madame Forester feel to Madame Loisel • 10 years : It symbolizes a very long time, the time that torture Madame Loisel and her family in order to pay the necklace that she borrows, it also has shown the gaps of Madame Loisel to know the truth about the necklace, and make her realize that everything is useless in those time. • Badly done hair, awry skirts: Shown Madame Loisel careless about her appearance. • Red hand : It is shown that Madame Loisel works so hard until every part of her hand become red. • Shrill voice : Here is symbolize the pique feelings that Madame Loisel have to her friend Madame Forestier. • The ball : Symbolize the behavior and also joyful. • Ministry Party : Symbolize the prestigious party that attended by important and also rich people. There is so many sign and symbol that use in this short story, each one of them is arranged by proper symbol and great interpretation. It makes the reader curious about the next story and keeps reading. And the ending plot is such a good impact on the reader, it is a great step from Guy de Maupassant to make the climax of the story in the end. We also found a many lessons from what the writer want to justify, one of them is to not always being grateful to everything that God had given to us, not to judge a think just by its appearance, to enjoy the life, don’t have a minded like everything we can buy with money, and not everything that rich people have is an original, it may be just a fake one.
