False Pride in The Necklace

In Mauassant's essay, The Necklace Matilda Loisel borrowed a necklace from a rich friend, Mrs Forestier, so that she would not present a "shabby air in the midst of rich women." She loses the necklace but refuses to admit that. Her and her husband, not realizing that the necklace was fake, buy a similar necklace to return to Mrs Forestier. They end up having to work for ten years to pay off this debt. All …

…next ten years thereafter. Mrs. Loisel's thoughts of grandeur before the loss of the necklace don't seem to coincide with her actions afterward. Maupassant says that the Loisel's completely lowered their standard of living as they worked to pay off the debt. Mme Loisel "did her part, however, completely heroically." She was still trying to maintain this false dignity. Ten years of hard work and poverty could not have been worth that one proud evening