Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace" are two literary works that examine the effects of dreams and aspirations on the relationships and lives of the individuals and characters in the texts. These pieces emphasize the powerful influence that our goals and aspirations may have on our relationships and sense of self, as well as the impact they can have on our daily lives.
In "The Necklace," the main character Mathilde Loisel desires an extravagant way of life that is out of her reach. She borrows a piece of pricey jewelry from a wealthy friend to wear to a party out of her desire for money and status, but when she loses it, her family's finances are destroyed. In her examination of "The Necklace," French literature expert Sarah Capitanio points out that Mathilde's fixation with worldly items causes "her downfall and moral corruption" (Capitanio, 2018). Mathilde's ambition for power and status causes her to put other people's opinions above her own, which ultimately leads to her suffering as a result of her actions.
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Angelou's hopes and objectives give her the courage to face her challenges and motivate her to follow her passion and improve her quality of life. In her analysis of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," literary scholar Patricia Liggins Hill points out that Angelou's writing is "an exploration of how the creative impulse...can transform lives" (Hill, 2015). In addition to influencing Angelou's identity, her determination to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer encourages others who encounter similar challenges to do the