Mathilde's mistake

    Mathilde's poverty is the result of her own selfishness and pride. She begins with a self-centered attitude, longing for things greater than she could ever afford. She is also prideful; she feels that she is too beautiful for simple things.

     Mathilde’s selfish behavior is the beginning to all her troubles. It is her self-centered way of reasoning that causes her to believe that she must have the necklace in order to be accepted. Her selfishness is evident when the author describes how Mathilde would imagine herself in a different life with extravagant things. She even would refuse to visit her friend out of envy. She again only considered her own feelings when “she flung the invitation petulantly across the table” (82). When she refused the invitation, she carelessly broke her husband’s heart. Even after he buys for her an expensive gown to wear, she is still dissatisfied. She tells him that she is “’utterly miserable at not having any jewels, not a single stone, to wear.’” (83). Even though she knows they cannot afford to spend freely, she still demands more and more from him. Despite his efforts to please her, she is still not satisfied.

       In addition to her selfishness, she is very prideful.  She is the cause of her own demise by this fault as well. She becomes prideful and careless when she wears the necklace. She, “in the triumph of her beauty” (83), becomes vain and proud resulting in her carelessness. After the party, she removes her coats “so as to see herself in all her glory before the mirror” (83). As she was admiring herself, she notices that the necklace was missing.

     Had she had been more cautious, she may not have lost the necklace. If she had, the chain of events that led to her poverty may have been prevented as well. However not only was this misfortune brought on to her by her own actions, but through the experience, her character and personality were changed forever.