The Necklace

I think that the theme of oppression is hitten within the other themes like marriage and class. Works of Literary Realism often focus on the theme of social class, and "The Necklace" is certainly an example of this. Mme. Loisel's greatest concern is her own social class, especially the way she is perceived in society in virtue of her appearance and attire. It is her focus on social class that causes her to borrow a necklace to wear to a party to which she and her husband have been invited; in an ironic twist, this very necklace results in them becoming even lower in social class when they lose it and must work to pay for a replacement. Women generally did not hold jobs and thus had little control over their social status besides through marriage. Thus the beginning of "The Necklace" depicts an unhappy marriage largely because Mme. Loisel yearns for the lavish life that her husband cannot provide her. However, once her actions have driven both herself and her husband to a lower social class and years of burdensome work, their marriage seems to improve and the couple is able to cooperate.