The Necklace

Relationships are hard enough when both people are in love. Imagine what it would be like if one person was not in love, but only married because it was expected. While most couples have their problems, Mathilde, from the short story “The Necklace”, is responsible for most of theirs. Mathilde destroys their financial future, was the root of their marital problems, and could not be satisfied. Mathilde destroys their financial future in several ways. First, she needs a new dress when she has a perfectly fine dress. Her husband, trying to please her, gets tickets to a fancy event. She complains that she has nothing to wear and that he should just give the tickets away. He complies, and gives her for hundred Frances for a dress. Secondly, she complains she has no jewelry and will look ugly and plain, knowing that she is beautiful without the extravaganza. M. Loisel could not afford such a thing, and told her to borrow from a friend. Because she knew she was beautiful, she danced late into the night. She becomes so high on the attention of all the men; she misplaces the necklace that she borrowed. Upon realizing this, she expects her husband to find it, or fix the situation and he does. He spends all his saved money and goes into debt for ten years.

First, Mathilde is unhappy about her place in life; she believes she should be enjoying the finer things. She wishes for better, richer food like quail. She becomes depressed, which is why M. Loisel gets her the tickets. She is unhappy with her marriage and lifestyle. She covets the lifestyle that she believes that someone with her looks should have. Secondly, she covets her rich friend and her life. This is the same friend she borrows jewelry from. Come to find out, she coveted a fake life. The friend was not rich, but only put on a show for everyone