The Necklace

Who says “Money can buy you happiness”? Is it worth spending time on an object you would be overwhelmed with joy about? The short story "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, explains the being of a meager woman dreaming to become wealthy. Too bad her life is a, poverty life.

Although the life of Matilda is appalling she was given the ability to modify her life, for the better, at first chance Matilda denied the opportunity. She chose this, because her life was treacherous, the rock bottom and she had been invited to a festivity of a friend; sky high. All she needed was a wealthier dress to hide the ugliness of her true wealth. Most people’s real lives were hiding in there closet. Mainly because what other people thought was the only thought that mattered. Never looking at the good side of any condition, caused Matilda to always believe everything happening to her was awful. The only good thing in life was the party, yet being the type of person Matilda was, she thought about not having any jewels to cover her naked neck. In order to make herself look enhanced than all the other woman at the formal gathering, Matilda pleaded the jewels of a dear friend of hers. The friend agreed to Matilda’s plea and Melinda was placed in the hands of stunning jewels. A type of accessory that make most of the eyes in the room piercing at you, a large diamond piece. And the bunch of diamonds in the center of the necklace was what caught the eyes of Matilda. After receiving such a precious gift, the night to come ahead would be perfect; now. Even though in the first place the night had already been fine to begin with. Most people in those days only cared about being on top, being the ones to catch the eyes of all the people and being the prize jewel of them all.

That night the confidence and self esteem of Matilda couldn’t be broken. She had all the ladies starring her way and all the gentleman wanting to dance the night away with her. Everything was like a dream, in this dream, it was the way she wanted life. During Matilda’s time period, nice clothes, big gems, large homes, fast cars and rich husbands was how your life was suppose to be. The woman’s main job back in the day was to get married and have a family. And Matilda was married, but her husband was nothing more than a lower class citizen. He didn’t make the kind of money most men made, that was why Matilda was so poor. Matilda had only one good thing out of her whole marriage, she loved him. She loved her husband even though he wasn’t wealthy. For Matilda to actually have a husband she loved you would think her life would be great. But Matilda never sees the good parts of her life, she is always negative. Instead of realizing Matilda had a great person by her side, she wanted the life of luxury.

When Matilda loses the gem of her dear friend she comes to the worse conclusion, buy a look alike gem. Even though she could have confronted the friend. Maybe the friend wouldn’t care or maybe she would have Matilda and her husband do some work around her house. But Matilda assumes she must buy a new necklace. Matilda and her husband are in a great debt, because they were trying to pay the necklace off. Everyday Matilda had to work hard to earn money, so she can pay off their debt. Finally after ten hard years of working to pay off the necklace, the debt is paid. And it just so happens when Matilda was at the grocery store, she would run into that dear old friend; only to find out the gems were fake. To think a person could be so stupid. All Matilda had to do, like her husband recommended, tell her friend she lost the necklace.

The life of fast cars, nice clothes, big gems, a wealthy husband and large homes, caught the eye of Matilda. She wanted the luxury life, but she was poor. Much like a Cinderella theme; Matilda is poor, wants money, is invited to a big event of a friend and borrows the necklace of another dear friend. When she has the necklace on her neck, Matilda feels powerful. Her look was complete with the necklace on her once was naked neck. While the necklace was in Matilda’s possession, she had loved the expensive item, the item bringing her closer and closer to wealth. But losing the necklace makes Matilda go start another life of poverty.