In "The Necklace," Maupassant introduces Mathilde as a charming young lady who yearns for the richness and social status of a high-class lady. She is unhappy with life and feels she is being kept out of the status that she craves. After receiving an invitation to the palace of the Ministry, she needed to attend wearing finer things than the rags on her back. She bought a fancy dress and her friend Mme. Forester lends her a diamond necklace. Later on the night she loses the necklace and buys a duplicate which will cost her 10 years of her life to pay off. At the end the original necklace was fake and all the hard work was for nothing. But is Mathilde a victim of fate or a victim of her own needs and desires?.
Fate is defined as the moments in life that are predetermined which will lead to how life is going to be. In those times a woman who lives in poverty had to marry. Maupassant states "she was married by a man rich and distinguished; and she let them make a match for her " (par. 1). In this sentence he explains that Mathilde's marriage is arranged. She has no choice in whether she wants to marry someone in the same wealth or not. Her fate is predetermined by her parents and by marrying a clerk she knows her life isn't going to be the life she fantasizes. .
At the moment Mathilde decides not to inform Mme. Forester that her necklace went missing her fate changes. But not informing her friend about the necklace was a blessing in disguise. Before, Mathilde was quiet, egocentric and selfish. Over the very long unpleasant 10 years of hardship, she became a woman of grace and beauty. Now imagine if she did inform Mme. Forester about the necklace, what kind of character would Mathilde be? Critics argue that Mathilde is a victim of her own needs and desires, as do I. Even though she was born into poverty, it doesn't excuse Mathilde's hunger for wealth and social status. You can be contempt with what you have and be grateful.
