y readers can relate to. Everyhuman being longs to be a part of some upper class group, but the majority does not actupon it nor are over come to the point that it occupies their current reality. So inMaupassant’s story the “slice of life” (Masterplots 2, 1907) reality is presented andreaders respond to Mathilde’s actions by looking within themselves. Though Maupassant used Mathilde’s character to provide meaning to his story, healso used symbolism to provide further depth and meaning towards her character. Mathilde longed to be delivered from her dull, dreary, and mediocre life. Rather thanseeking deliverance in the pleasant things that already surrounded her like a husband thatcared so much that he would sacrifice his last cent for her happiness, or one servant thattook care of the necessary cleaning and up keep of their home. Instead she wanted more. The only deliverance she could obtain that would make her content was in material wealthand everything that money could buy. She could have easily been satisfied with oneservant, but she dreamed and wanted more, because she felt she deserved more. Thenecklace represents a large portion of who Mathilde is, thus becoming the core of thestory. The necklace is at the heart of her personality, not only representing her greed, buther artificiality as well. (Short Story, 168) Mathilde defines herself by her obsession formaterial things, and by doing so she feels everyone else will define her as well, placing herin the society she feels she deserves. When Mathilde came upon the necklace as sheeagerly searched through Madame Forestier’s jewelry, she “remained in ecstasy of herself”knowing that with this necklace she will be able to hide, for at least one night, the truereality she lives. Sadly, it only took one night for reality to set in and her whole life tochange. Thus the necklace defines her character.As Maupassaunt’s style p...
