The_Necklace

The Necklace The one element that is above all important is conflict. The conflict in this story is Man vs. Self. Mathilde always wanted more then what she had. Mathilde’s character is introduced as having the belief that she should have been born into a higher class, which results in her profound desire to, at the least, appear to lead a life of luxury. Nothing was ever superior enough for her. “She grieved incessantly, feeling that she had been born for all the little niceties and luxuries of living.” She thinks is perfect and that the world should revolve around her. When she is older, she is not as perfect as she was when she was younger. Mathilde appeared an old woman now. She became heavy, rough, and harsh, like one of the poor. Her hair untended, her skirts askew, her hands red, her voice shrill, she even slopped water on her floors and scrubbed them herself. There was no longer a maid present. Nor were there dreams of going to a ball. I’m sure that the only dream that she had was to have her old life back. It is clear right away that Mathilde feels she deserves more than a clerk for a husband. Her desire to live a life of luxury consumes her and prevents her from finding satisfaction with any aspect of her life. Her husband goes through a great deal of trouble to obtain an invitation to a fancy party; however, when he tells her the news, she replies coldly, “What do you want me to do with this'” He is brokenhearted, and makes every effort to convince her to go to the party and even sacrifices his savings for her to buy a new dress. Mathilde is so concerned with her appearance at the beginning of the story that she is not satisfied with a new dress; she also needs jewels to feel socially acceptable. Madame Forestier, the one who lends her the necklace, treats her with kindness and lets her choose any piece of jewelry to borrow. After rummaging through Madame Forestier’s jewel collection, Mathilde chooses the one that she expects will draw the most attention. Mathilde only cares about others’ feelings when they are directed towards her. Without realizing, Mathilde loses the necklace at the party, and for the next ten years, she and her husband work very hard to pay off debts incurred from replacing it. Even in the end, Mathilde continues to have a slightly self-centered attitude, which is exemplified best by her meeting with Madame Forrestier. After Madame Forrestier comments on the changes in her appearance, Mathilde’s response is, “Yes, I’ve had some hard times since I saw you last; and many sorrows…and all on your account”. Her experience helps her learn that honesty is more important in the long run than her outward appearance. Nothing was ever superior enough for her. “She grieved incessantly, feeling that she had been born for all the little niceties and luxuries of living.” She thinks is perfect and that the world should revolve around her. When she is older, she is not as perfect as she was when she was younger. Mathilde appeared an old woman now. She became heavy, rough, and harsh, like one of the poor. Her hair untended, her skirts askew, her hands red, her voice shrill, she even slopped water on her floors and scrubbed them herself. There was no longer a maid present. Nor were there dreams of going to a ball. I’m sure that the only dream that she had was to have her old life back. It’s true when they say be careful what you wish for. But, sometimes, while her husband was at work, she would sit near the window and think of that long-ago evening when, at the dance; she had been so beautiful and admired.” This shows how she has to clean her house on her own now that she does not have her maids and butlers any longer. She is also no longer beautiful. At first she was living the life of a house wife. Not even the traditional house wife. She didn’t appreciate the money that her husband made of the life of necessities that he provided her with. The only reason she was admired at the dance was because of the necklace. A necklace that was merely costume jewelry that ruined her life. Her life could have been like that party if she had not lost the necklace. “What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace' Who knows' Who can say' How strange and unpredictable life is! How little there is between happiness and misery!” She ruined her own life and also her husbands and she herself could be the only one to fix it. .We as people are never thankful for the things that we have. We always want more than what we have. What Mathilde never once thought about is the people whom did not have what she had. Most people do not have a maid, a loving husband, or even food on the table. She was never once thankful for the things that she had, but dreadful of her life.