In Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney, the 16th-century English poet says:“Ungratefulness is the very poison of manhood.” It is part of the human nature to want what is best and very often it becomes even more attractive if somehow it seems intangible. “The grass is always greener on the other side,” we think, and barely notice the buds appearing on the plants which will soon bloom and fill our own the garden with vibrant colors. In the 19th century story “The Necklace,” ungratefulness is a prominent characteristic of Mathilde, who is a pretty woman married to a big-hearted, calm minor secretary of state. The protagonist has the habit of belittling her conditions while her husband does all he can to make her happy as if he was trying to fill in for the rich and distinguished man Mathilde wished she had married. It was not until she can get a sneak peek of what it means to live in the high society that she can value what she has instead of what she wishes she did. In The Necklace, Guy de Maupassant portrays Mathilde Loisel’s transformation from being a petty person to one who is modest, making changes in her actions and attitudes, following the loss of a necklace.

Maupassant shows Mathilde’s transformation from being a petty person to one who is modest through changes in her actions. At the beginning of the story, Mathilde shows intense discontentment with her economic and social circumstances and dreams about the fancy life she would have if she was a wealthy member of the