A Plea for Mathilde Loisel
In Guy de Maupassant's short story, "The Necklace," Mathilde Loisel is apretty and charming girl who was born into poverty. She is described as"having no dowry, no expectations, no means of being known, understood,loved, wedded by any rich and distinguished man" (de Maupassant 983).Mathilde becomes bitter because she is not rich. Over time, she becomes soobsessed with materialism that everything she sees reminds her of what shedoes not have. When she sat down to dinner with her husband, she imaged amore luxurious dining setting. The dance presents her with a situation tohave something nice, and even though they could not even afford her dress,she bought one anyway. "All those things, of which another woman of herrank would have never even have been conscious, tortured her and made herangry" (984). Clearly, Mathilde is envious of the life she does not haveand resentful of the life she does have. Mathilde's thoughts and actions clearly demonstrate the depth of hervanity. She was not happy. We are told, "She had no dresses, jewels,nothing. And she loved nothing but that" (984). This statementdemonstrates her true selfishness. She also reveals how manipulative she
She had lived a difficult lifefor most of her years and she only wanted something nice for herself. Additionally, the only time she ever seemed to enjoy herself was atthe ball. Shewanted something she could feel good about. It is no wonder that sheslaved and aged so painfully. Mathilde was not able to fully realize all of her potential because shecould never break free from poverty. She wasthe prettiest lady there and "all the attaches of the Cabinet wanted towaltz with her" (986). All of these scenes illustrate how Mathilde was completelyconsumed with her vanity to the point that she could not enjoy her place inlife. That much is clear by how everyone treated her at the ball. She allowed him andherself to work for ten long years to pay off a necklace they could neverafford just because she wanted to look good. Simply put, she wanted a better life. Her yearnings were natural andnormal. If the necklace hadnot fallen from her neck, there is no telling what direction her life couldhave gone. In fact, no one can provethat she was inherently evil. Like so many beautiful people, sheis hindered from what she can become by poverty.
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