"The Jewels" by Guy de Maupassant
1. Madame Lantin is the key character in "The Jewels," yet we are told scarcely anything about her--not even her first name. However, from the few details that Maupassant does provide, we are given some clues to help us understand her personality. Describe your vision of Madame Lantin. What does she look like? How does she behave? Would you be a friend to her? Discuss.
2. Would you forgive someone who had disappointed or betrayed you, if you ultimately benefited from his or her behavior? Explain.
"How Much Land Does a Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy
1. In "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" Tolstoy presents us with an allegory, a story that has both a literal and a symbolic meaning. Discuss the symbolism of Tolstoy's story.
2. Discuss how the desire to have material goods and status in nineteenth-century Russia and in twenty-first-century America are comparable.
3. Have you ever "grasped too much and ruined the whole affair"--that is, lost something because you were too ambitious? Can you think of examples of people from current events, history, or other fictional stories who have failed by being greedy or attempting too much?
I imagine Madame Lantin as a tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed, skinny devil with beauty that could knock the socks off of anyone. She behaves as a flirt, wrapping every man she meets around her delicate little finger. I would be her best friend.
ReplyDeleteI will always forgive someone, especially if I benefited from their behavior. I tend to forgive anyone for anything.
ReplyDeleteTolstoy's tale symbolically means that the key to happiness isn't wealth. The key to happiness is doing what you love, surrounding yourself with people you love, and eating the food that you love.
ReplyDeleteThe same desire to own things in Ye Olde Russia is still running rampant in today's America. Everyone wants the newest gadget/gizmo, and back then, everyone wanted land. HIGHLY COMPARABLE. I have no doubt that if smart phones, e-readers, and iPods existed back in those days, they would be must-have things. And think of today's real estate market. Everyone wants a new plot of land to build their dream house on. We might as well be living in Russia.
ReplyDeleteI envision Madame Lantin with pale, porcelin skin, wavy black hair and green eyes. Her manner would be very charming and silly;the type of person who could light up a room when she walked in. I would definitely be her friend as long as her trollopish behvaior did not affect me (she would have to stay away from MY husband ha!) because I think she would have some incredibly interesting stories to tell. \I think it would be fun to "live through her" as they say.
ReplyDeleteMy Madame Lantin would be like a mixture of yours Dea and Holdens. I do not think I would be her friend, as even though she and her husband didn't spend time together that would not be a reason to have various affairs. And I would be worried she would steal my hubby haha!
ReplyDeleteTry as I might, I find it very difficult to not forgive people. I believe that some people do not deserve forgivness but I find it too difficult to hold a grudge. The feeling of betrayal is the absolute worst, especially from a significant other. I am sure I would be extremely upset for a long time but I would eventually come to terms with it, though it would be hard to do so with out any answers or apologies. I would take the money as a ultimate screw you and spend half of it on lavish things for myself and my new boyfriends. And then the other half to some cause they hated.
ReplyDelete@Kyla Yeah, it would be difficult as a female to trust her around your man ever. I would be suspcious.
ReplyDeleteI could see forgiving someone for a disappointment, but not for a betrayal. I believe that is one of the worst things you can do to a "friend". And Dea I would definitely spend the money just to get payback.
ReplyDeleteI would make sure not to use it in some way they would approve of though. Like if they hated a certain thing I liked to do or charity I would make sure to use it there ha ha!
ReplyDeleteHaha I could see you doing that! I really liked the Tolstoy story! It really showed how greedy and excessive people can be. They think "Oh just a little bit more" and soon they end up with nothing.
ReplyDeleteI think in some ways "greed" is beneficial- that is when we call it "ambition" It is just hard to know when to draw that line between greed and drive. It really reflects American capitialsm today. I think it is okay if you are charitable with the things you posses. When do you know when to stop I think is the bigger question.
ReplyDeleteI personally have never tried to achieve so much that I fail. I do know some people who have though and it can be very disappointing. All of that hard work and it all end is failure.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I know anyone who has tried to grasp too much. Examples?
ReplyDeleteI think the desire to have material goods now is comparable to nearly any era anywhere. Exhibit A: Adam and Eve are curious yes, but one could also say greedy as they steal fruit from the tree of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteDea if you want examples, visit a prison. You'll find people who just wanted a little more money but didn't want to earn it.
ReplyDeleteIn Tolstoy's story, the devil symbolizes greed, land symbolizes whatever we want and somehow can't get enough of. Additionally, I think the people selling land at the end of the story symbolize justice.
ReplyDeleteI think my answer tithe second question about the jewels would depend on two things: what he or she did to betray/disappoint me and of course what he/she did to "earn" whatever I'm getting as a benefit to being their friend. Personally, I wouldn't be this person's friend again just because I was getting compensation. They'd have to obtain or hopefully retain some intrinsic quality quintessential to friendship, or at a stretch something close to it (in extreme cases).
ReplyDeleteI'm almost positive that I would be Madame Lantin's friend. I would not approve of her actions in any way, shape, or form. However, we all have that friend who we disagree with right?
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to get all religious on this but, yes I would find it in my heart to forgive someone who betrayed me. I would forgive them because of the Bible. Matthew 18:22 says that you should forgive someone 70 x 7 times. Thus, I would find it in my heart to forgive them, even though it would be difficult.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading "The Jewels" I was reminded of Madame Bovary. Both ladies had affairs and had valuable possessions. Coincidentally, both of these ladies were French (ha!). The only difference I found was that one lady put her husband into enormous debt and the other left her husband an enormous fortune. Also, Monsieur Lantin could have prevented the affairs but Monsieur Bovary did not have that chance.
ReplyDeleteBefore I start on Tolstoy's story... Fun fact about Tolstoy! You can find in my family tree that I am very distantly related to him on my dad's side. Its not very clear exactly how, but I am!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I thought Tolstoy's story was very great. It shows how greed can control one's life. Its great that he included the devil as well. I really enjoyed the story!