The Necklace

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In The Necklace from Guy de Maupassant, Mathilde had an internal struggle with herself. She mentally had a fierce battle with the financial and physical drawbacks that were placed on her. Since she married into a hard working family of clerks, she "had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man rich and distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a minor official in the Ministry of Public Instruction" (Pg 1). She was beautiful naturally, but Mathilde and her husband suffered through poverty. She was also unhappy with her life. She had always wanted a rich and colourful life, but for now it was black and white.

The first conflict was about how Mathilde felt unhappy with her social status. …show more content…

With this necklace, Mathilde got a glance at the life she fit into best, but both herself and her husband paid for it densely for countless years to come. The necklace she borrowed and lost provided an entrance into that world, as well an ill-advised exit out of it. It had taken Mathilde and her husband ten years to pay off the debt for a new replacement necklace. The ten years she experienced were not spent with enjoyment and delight as she had at the ball, nor were they owned with plain things she had and despised. She "now knew the horrible life of necessity. She did her part, however, completely heroically". (Pg 5). When Mathilde passed her wealthy friend on the street, she was hardly noticeable. She was not the same person that had gone to the ball with. Although Mathilde confessed about the replacement necklace, she was still satisfied and happy with her life, stating "At last, it is finished, and I am decently content." (Pg 6). Even though Mathilde and her husband wasted ten years to pay back for a replacement necklace, she was still happy. Mathilde did a good act by not lying to her friend, who at the end, stated "Oh my poor Mathilde! Mine were false. They were not worth over five hundred francs." (Pg

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