The Necklace

            Guy De Maupassant's short story, "The Necklace," tells about a woman's intense desire of becoming associated with the upper class and how it ultimately brings about her downfall into poverty. The protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, shows many characteristics that bring about her downfall. She is very pretty and charming but by a mistake of destiny was born into a family of clerks. She knows that she has the qualities needed to be noticed, but her vanity, greed and pride lead into a life far from her dreams. In this story, Maupassant delivers a very important message. If Mathilde had told her rich friend the truth, she would not have wasted ten years of her life. Therefore, the consequences of her actions sentence Mathilde and her husband to a life of poverty. .
             Maupassant describes Mathilde Loisel's character as very greedy. In the beginning of the story, Maupassant talks about how Mathilde is indeed very charming but by "a mistake of destiny, born in a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no expectation, no means of being known, understood, loved, and wedded by any rich and distinguished man." Hence, "She let herself be married to a little clerk at The Ministry of Public Instruction." She is unsatisfied with her life and thinks about how it would feel to be rich. "She suffered ceaselessly, feeling born for all those delicacies and all the luxuries." Mathilde wants all those things for which another woman of her caste would never even think of wanting. She dreams about having Oriental tapestry, tall bronze candelabra, two great footmen in knee breeches. "She thinks of long salons fitted up with ancient silk, of the delicate furniture carrying priceless curiosities, and of the coquettish perfumed boudoirs made for talks at five o"clock with intimate friends, with men famous and sought after, whom all women envy and those whose attention they all desire." .
             Mathilde is also vain and manipulative.