When I came to the end of The Necklace, I really felt sorry for Mathilde's experience. The central character Mathilde has deeply impressed me. In my opinion, it is her amour-propre that leads to her grievous end.
Mathilde was a charming and pretty woman. However, during her time, she couldn't marry a wealthy husband because of her birth in an ordinary family. She didn't feel satisfied with her plain life, and even wronged, unlike other women of the equal living standard. I can fully understand why she often imagined luxury occasions that did not exist.
Her life had changed since a splendid ball. Because of her vanity, she borrowed a necklace from one of her friends. At that party, Mathilde attracted all people's attention and was remarked by all men present. Feeling made for that, she did enjoy the pleasure.
Unfortunately, the loss of the necklace which was considered expensive involved her into a huge debt. She wasn't vainglorious any more and the image of an elegant party princess could only be in her memory. She did everything she could to pay for the debt, doing all the housework and living an economical life. "She had become the woman of impoverished households—strong and hard and tough." (43) The end of the story was ironic. Mathilde met with her necklace-lender ten years later after having paid everything. She told her friend the truth, and in return, a more surprising truth was revealed. Paste was the necklace lent to her.
I wonder what if the necklace wasn't missing, then what kind of life will Mathilde live. "What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows? How life is strange and changeful! How little a thing is needed for us to be lost or to be saved!" (44) However, I regard the tragedy as a necessity. It is her personality that makes her life go in that way. And it is also impossible that she would change without that incident.
Nevertheless, I am still in sympathy for her experience. If she was born in a large family, things might not go in this way. I do not think she is deserved her fate, yet she cannot have a control on her life. However, sometimes we have to believe in destiny.
