A person's actions can say many things about a person's nature. The Story, The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant introduced the life a character name Mathilde. Mathilde was a beautiful women who believed that somehow she was born to the wrong life because of her weakness for wealth. She wished that she was born into a higher class, which made her want to appear to others as if she lead a life of luxury. Mathilde believes that she should be married to an man of wealth and not an little clerk in the Ministry of Public Instructions, which only pays them enough to get by. Her desire to for wealth prevents her from finding satisfaction with any aspect of her life. It seems like nothing is good enough for her. Mathildes attitude towards her environment and home shows just how unhappy she is with her non-wealthy life.
Mathildes husband gets an invitation to a ball, which gives her an opportunity to live her ultimate dream. After Mathilde was informed about the party, she replies And what do you want me to put on my back?(page 60). Mathilde then talks about the fancy clothes that she do not have to attend this party. The statement definitely shows Mathildes true nature of wanting to be wealthy because she knows that she is unable to afford what she deeply desires. Instead of Mathilde thinking about what she was going to where and how she was going to look, she should have been thinking about how much fun she and her husband was going to have while attending the party. After Mathilde awful statement, she has the leisure to buy herself a new dress for the party with the money that her husband has been saving. This was not even enough for her. She wanted shoes and jewelry to go with her new dress so she could feel like she was accepted by the elegant women and men that would be present at the party. This weakness for wealth is a trait that causes most of her problems that results in the borrowing of the necklace from one of her close friends that she has consider rich. Of course while searching threw her friends jewelry, she chooses the necklace that she expects will make her look like she living an wealthy life.
Mathildes weakness of being wealthy was also shown after the party when she ran from her husband after he tried to put a modest everyday wrap which contrasted with elegance of her evening gown (page 62) over her shoulders, so that the other women that was draped in fur would not look down at her when they see her wearing that wrap. Some say the root of all evil is money and wealth and this defiantly applies to Mathilde.
After the party, Mathilde then realize that she had lost the borrowed necklace. When, for a night, Mathilde has everything she wants she and throws it away by covering up the fact she lost the necklace. Thus, she loses everything to replace that necklace. This loss changes her forever. Mathildes weakness was a huge flaw. The weakness results in the loss of everything she holds dear. She also loses who she is.
In conclusion, All of these examples has clearly confirmed that Mathildes weakness for wealth was only making her life worse off. Many people in the world desire to have more wealth than they have but many people are grateful for what they have because it could be an holy mess. In Mathildes case, she should have been more grateful of what she has instead of complaining about the things she does not have because she had experience the prime example of what could happen when you dreams overcomes reality.
Work Cited
Maupassant, Guy De. Literature: A Portable Anthology: The Necklace. Boston Massachusetts: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. Pg 59-65.
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