How fast can characters change based on their circumstances? When Mathilde of “The Necklace”, by Guy de Maupassant, loses her friend’s seemingly priceless treasure, she has two choices. She can either tell the truth, or she can hide it. Her choice has a very obvious effect on her character. Mathilde is a dynamic character that starts depressed and poor, to joyous, then, worn down, yet proud.
Madame Loisel starts off miserable, and feels cheated out of a good life. Although quite beautiful, Mathilde is poor, and is depressed because she never gets to enjoy life’s luxuries. “She grieved incessantly, feeling that she had been born for all the little niceties and luxuries of living.” (11) She feels as though she was born to have a pleasurable time, but rather life is hard and unforgiving. When she is invited to a party she is still miserable, because she feels that she has “she no evening clothes, no jewels, nothing.” (35) . Although her husband thought that the invitation would cheer her up, it only made her more miserable. The prospect of something so jubilant being so close, yet so far, causes Mathilde to only become more sad. She spent her days crying “from vexation, regret, despair, and anguish.”(40). In the beginning of the story, Mathilde’s life seems worthless to her. …show more content…
To Mathilde,her friend’s necklace made her fit for the party. She thanked her friend, then “kissed her warmly, and fled with her treasure” (112). At the event, Mathilde has a magnificent time. She was “fashionable, gracious, smiling, and wild with joy.” (115) By the end of the event, Mathilde is glowing with joy, and “a sense of complete victory that is so sweet to a woman’s heart.” (119) This was a turning point for her character, Mathilde’s attitude towards life has completely changed. She seems to have a new outlook on life, until something goes terribly
Madame Loisel starts off miserable, and feels cheated out of a good life. Although quite beautiful, Mathilde is poor, and is depressed because she never gets to enjoy life’s luxuries. “She grieved incessantly, feeling that she had been born for all the little niceties and luxuries of living.” (11) She feels as though she was born to have a pleasurable time, but rather life is hard and unforgiving. When she is invited to a party she is still miserable, because she feels that she has “she no evening clothes, no jewels, nothing.” (35) . Although her husband thought that the invitation would cheer her up, it only made her more miserable. The prospect of something so jubilant being so close, yet so far, causes Mathilde to only become more sad. She spent her days crying “from vexation, regret, despair, and anguish.”(40). In the beginning of the story, Mathilde’s life seems worthless to her. …show more content…
To Mathilde,her friend’s necklace made her fit for the party. She thanked her friend, then “kissed her warmly, and fled with her treasure” (112). At the event, Mathilde has a magnificent time. She was “fashionable, gracious, smiling, and wild with joy.” (115) By the end of the event, Mathilde is glowing with joy, and “a sense of complete victory that is so sweet to a woman’s heart.” (119) This was a turning point for her character, Mathilde’s attitude towards life has completely changed. She seems to have a new outlook on life, until something goes terribly