The seventh chapter in 'Footprints without Feet' textbook is 'The Necklace' written by Guy de Maupassant. This fictional short story is about a pretty lady, Matilda Loisel who lived in a small yet cosy flat with her husband. He worked as a clerk in the office of the Board of Education and loved his wife very much. They were not so well-off to be able to have a luxurious lifestyle. They led a simple life. Matilda was unhappy about her condition and always desired to be rich. She often felt disappointed and brooded about her financial condition for not having a huge mansion to live in and riches to splurge. She always desired to wear beautiful dresses with matching jewellery, but she had none of it. This chapter focuses on the fact that one should be content and satisfied with their belongings and not crave for expensive items that are not within their economical capabilities. Extreme desire for lavish items leads to unhappiness and loss of peace of mind.
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NCERT Solutions for Chapter 7: The Necklace
Also Check
Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery
Chapter 2: The Thief's Story
Chapter 3: The Midnight Visitor
Chapter 4: A Question of Trust
Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet
Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist
Chapter 8: The Hack Driver
Chapter 9: Bholi
Chapter 10: The Book that saved the Earth
Check out Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Chapter 7: The Necklace
Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friend?
Matilda had inferiority complex. Whenever she visitedier rich friend she felt dejected and disappointed because of her poverty. She used to compare her lodgings to that of her friend’s. She did not have attractive dress and jewellery to adorn herself with. That is why, she did not like to visit her rich friend.
What had Matilda’s husband saved the money for? Why did he then part with his savings?
Matilda’s husband had saved a good amount of money to buy a gun for him. But when his wife refused to attend the party without a new dress, he had to give up buying the gun. He used the saved four hundred francs to buy her costume.
What did Mme Forestier tell Matilda about the reality of her Necklace?
After having lost the borrowed necklace, Matilda replaced it with a diamond necklace bought for thirty-six thousand francs. But Mme Forestier told her that her necklace was false costing about 500 francs.
What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
They had to shift to a cheaper room and dismiss the servant. She did all the household works and shopping by herself. She fetched water, washed the floor, utensils and dirty clothes by herself. Matilda’s husband worked in the evening and late at night to pay back the debt.
Do you think Matilda’s over-ambitious nature was the cause of her miseries?
Yes, Matilda’s overambitious nature led to her avoidable miseries. Just to show herself a rich lady, she borrowed a necklace from her rich friend. Her miseries started when the necklace was lost by her.