The downfall of Madame Loisel in Maupassant's 'The Necklace'

Jealousy and envy are among the greatest of sins and have been the down fall of many. Maupassant's 'The Necklace' is the story of a woman who is overcome with jealousy and envy. Mathilde Loisel feels she has been cheated by life from all of the wonderful things it has to offer. The reader learns how these qualities in Mme. Loisel come back to haunt her for many years as the story unfolds with an …

…worth at most five hundred francs!'(906). Mathilde Loisel was an envious woman. She desperately wanted to be like her friend Mme. Forestier, with plenty of money, jewels, and beautiful clothes. She felt cheated from all of the good things in life that she felt she deserved. This overwhelming feeling of envy cast a shadow throughout Mme. Loisel's life as she found out that things are not always as good as they seem to be.