The Cost of the Necklace in Dorothy Parker’s “The Standard of Living”

This note focuses on a neglected ambiguity at the center of Dorothy Parker’s short story “The Standard of Living,” namely whether the price quoted for the necklace desired by the two protagonists is accurate or not. It argues that this ambiguity makes possible two different interpretations of the story. But rather than causing hermeneutic conflict, these two readings can be reconciled if seen in relation to Parker’s satiric practice and the thematic interest in the relative nature of wealth. Ultimately, the story is shown to deal with a timeless issue whose relevance has only grown since the original publication.