Mathilde’s Changing Attitude in “The Necklace”: A Lesson in Humility

Mathilde’s Discontentment with Her Life


Mathilde from The Necklace

Mathilde Loisel, the protagonist of “The Necklace,” is a dissatisfied young woman who believes that she deserves a better life than the one she has. Though she is married to a clerk, Mathilde is unhappy because she feels that her modest life is not rife with the luxuries that she desires. Her discontentment with her life is persistent, and it influences her decision-making throughout the story.

Mathilde’s attitude is characterized by feelings of envy, restlessness, and a constant search for a way out of her current situation. When she is invited to a grand ball, she sees it as a chance to experience the lavish lifestyle that she has always dreamed of. Despite her husband’s misgivings about the cost of a new dress, Mathilde insists that she must look the part, so she borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend to complete her outfit.

In this initial stage of the story, we see Mathilde as desperate and deeply dissatisfied with her life. She is willing to go to great lengths to achieve the sense of luxury and status that she desires, even if it means lying to others and manipulating situations to fit her own desires.

Mathilde’s initial attitude


Mathilde Loisel the Necklace

Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the short story ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant. She is a young woman who is unhappy with her life and constantly dreams of a life of luxury. Mathilde is discontented with her modest social status, her simple home, and her plain clothing. She is consumed with envy for those who have a higher social standing than her, especially those who have more money than her.

Mathilde is not happy with her husband, Monsieur Loisel, either. She finds fault with everything he does and is always criticizing him. She is constantly complaining about how he cannot provide her with the extravagant lifestyle that she craves. Mathilde is a daydreamer and spends most of her time imagining a better life for herself. She longs to be rich and respected.

Mathilde constantly compares herself to others and feels that she has been born into the wrong social class. She believes that she deserves better and that her life is unfulfilled. Mathilde’s attitude is one of dissatisfaction and restlessness. She is convinced that if she had been born into a wealthy family, her life would have been much different.

However, Mathilde’s initial attitude sets the stage for her downfall. Her deep-seated dissatisfaction and contempt for her simple life will ultimately lead her to make a series of decisions that will have disastrous consequences. Her desire for luxury and material possessions will ultimately lead her to borrow a diamond necklace, which in turn, will set off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

The Necklace Incident


the necklace incident

Mathilde, a beautiful, yet discontented, young woman, is married to a lowly clerk, Monsieur Loisel, who works hard to provide for her. Mathilde always dreams of living a luxurious life, but their financial constraints keep her from achieving her dreams. Her life takes a drastic turn when she borrows a diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier, to attend a high-class ball. That night, Mathilde shines in her expensive-looking gown and feels like the belle of the ball. However, things take a dark turn when she loses the precious necklace, setting off a chain of events that lead to the ruin of her and her husband’s lives.

After losing the necklace, Mathilde and her husband have to replace it, leading to a significant debt that they must repay. They borrow money, cut back on everything they can, and work hard to pay off their debt. However, Mathilde’s sensitive nature and obsession with her appearance make it hard for her to deal with the sudden shift in their lives. She becomes increasingly sullen, depressed, and irritable, blaming her husband and her circumstances for her misery. For Mathilde, the loss of the necklace represents much more than just debt and financial instability. It symbolizes the downfall of her dreams and the life she always wanted.

In the beginning, Mathilde is portrayed as a beautiful young woman who is unsatisfied with her life due to her social status. She wants more than what her lifestyle offers her and dreams of living a wealthy life that is beyond her means. Mathilde’s attitude changes drastically after losing the necklace. Her dissatisfaction turns into jealousy, frustration, and desperation. She becomes unhappy with her life and her husband’s low-paying job, lamenting how she would have been happier if they were richer. Mathilde even contemplates suicide, unable to face reality and what her life has become.

Mathilde’s negative attitude towards life and her circumstances slowly eats away at her, both physically and mentally. Her discontent leads to a strained relationship with her husband, who loves her dearly and works hard to provide for her. She becomes consumed by her debt and her desire for worldly possessions and forgets what truly matters in life. Her perspective becomes skewed, and she becomes unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In conclusion, Mathilde’s attitude change in “The Necklace” is a subtle yet significant one. At the beginning of the story, she is shown as an envious woman who is eager to live a luxurious life. But after losing the necklace, she experiences a downward spiral into debt, depression, and despair. Her attitude towards life changes dramatically, making her moody and difficult to deal with. She slowly forgets what truly matters in life – love, companionship, and happiness. The loss of the necklace becomes a catalyst for the change in Mathilde’s perspective and ultimately results in her downfall.

Mathilde’s attitude after losing the necklace


Mathilde Necklace

Mathilde’s attitude undergoes a drastic change after losing the necklace. She becomes completely consumed with the fear of being exposed for losing it and begins to lie and deceive those around her. This is in contrast to her initial attitude, where she was confident and carefree.

Mathilde’s obsession with the necklace’s loss leads her to take out enormous debts to buy a replacement, all the while living a lifestyle of luxury and deceit. She puts her marriage at risk by asking her husband to borrow money, which he has saved for another purpose, and then convinces him that it is for an extravagantly expensive dress she wants to wear to an important event.

Mathilde’s deceit extends to her friend, Madame Forestier, who had lent her the necklace. She lies to Madame Forestier, telling her that the necklace has been repaired and returned to her when it is, in fact, a cheap imitation. Mathilde’s lies and deception are evidence of her desperate attempts to keep up appearances and avoid being exposed for losing the necklace.

Mathilde’s attitude towards her husband also changes significantly. At the beginning of the story, she is dissatisfied with her life and often complains about her husband’s lack of wealth and status. After losing the necklace, however, Mathilde realizes the gravity of the situation and begins to appreciate her husband’s kindness and dedication to her. She feels guilty for deceiving him and other people around her and realizes that material possessions are not important in life.

In conclusion, Mathilde’s attitude undergoes a significant transformation after losing the necklace. She becomes consumed with fear, lies and deceives those around her, and risks her marriage and reputation. However, in the end, she realizes the value of what is truly important in life and regrets her past actions.

The realization


Mathilde from The Necklace

Mathilde, the protagonist of the short story ‘The Necklace’, is an unhappy woman who is dissatisfied with her life. She has always longed for wealth and luxury, and feels that her middle-class lifestyle is beneath her. Mathilde dreams of a life of opulence and grandeur, but her humble existence with her husband, a clerk, only shatters her dreams.

At the beginning of the story, Mathilde’s dissatisfaction and discontentment with her life are evident. She is unhappy with her modest home, her plain clothes, and her lack of jewelry. Mathilde believes that material possessions and jewelry are the key to happiness and status.

However, her attitude and perspective towards life gradually change after she borrows a necklace from her wealthy friend to attend a high-class party. After the party, she realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband spend years of hard work and sacrifice to repay the debt incurred from buying a replacement necklace, only to find out that the original one was fake, and worth much less than the one they replaced. At this point, Mathilde finally understands the true value of life and the love of her husband.

Mathilde’s realization of the truth leads to a transformation in her character. She accepts her place in society and learns to be content with her simple life. She no longer longs for material items and understands that true happiness cannot be bought with money. Instead, she embraces the love of her husband and appreciates the simple pleasures of life.

In the end, Mathilde’s realization highlights an important moral lesson: a life of happiness and contentment is not defined by wealth and status. It is defined by the people you love and cherish, and the simple pleasures of life that cannot be bought with money. Mathilde learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and that true happiness and joy can be found in everyday moments and experiences.

Mathilde’s Dissatisfaction with Life


Mathilde from the necklace

At the beginning of “The Necklace,” Mathilde’s attitude is one of perpetual dissatisfaction and a longing for wealth. Mathilde is unhappy with her life as a middle-class woman, constantly wishing for a life of luxury and grandeur. She spends most of her time daydreaming about what could have been, rather than appreciating what she has. Her discontent is so great that she is unable to find happiness in her marriage with her husband, who is content with his life and loves her deeply.

Mathilde’s Transformation


Mathilde after the necklace

After losing the necklace, Mathilde’s attitude slowly begins to change. She realizes the extent of her mistake and the consequences of her actions. Her obsession with material possessions is replaced by a newfound appreciation for her life. After spending years in poverty and hard labor to pay off the debt of the lost necklace, she accepts her situation with a humble heart and becomes grateful for the small pleasures in life.

Acceptance and Gratitude


Mathilde acceptance and gratitude

Mathilde’s transformation is complete by the end of the story. She has become a humble, grateful woman who cherishes the simple joys of life. She realizes that her obsession with wealth and status was never worth the pain and suffering that it caused her and her husband. Mathilde is content with her life, no longer desiring what she cannot have, and finds happiness in the love and companionship of her husband.

Lessons Learned


Mathilde lessons learned

The story of “The Necklace” teaches us valuable lessons about the dangers of greed and the importance of gratitude. Mathilde’s attitude towards life reminds us that happiness comes from within and that material possessions will never bring true joy. We should learn to appreciate what we have and be grateful for the small things in life rather than always longing for more. Mathilde’s transformation from a selfish, unhappy woman into a content and grateful one is a powerful reminder of how life-changing a shift in attitude can be.

In Conclusion


The Necklace

The Necklace is a timeless tale that teaches us valuable lessons about the dangers of greed, the importance of gratitude and the power of transformation. Through Mathilde’s journey, we learn that true happiness comes from accepting and cherishing what we have in life. Mathilde’s transformation serves as a reminder that a shift in attitude can lead to life-changing progress, making it essential to keep gratitude and contentment at the forefront of our minds.

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