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Vanity In Guy De Maupassant's Unpopular Gals

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What makes people obsess over vanity? What possesses people to be jealous? The analysis of two short stories; The Necklace written by Guy de Maupassant and Unpopular Gals by Margret Atwood can both compare and contrast one another. “Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams.” A quote from Neil Gaiman can perfectly depict the dreams that both main characters of these texts experience a dream or fantasy about vanity and other unexplainable feelings. With the use of analysing the protagonist’s relationships, identity, psyche and main themes, we can fully explore Gaiman’s quote of how we can understand the mind and dreams of these characters. Unpopular Gals demonstrates an unhealthy relationship between two …show more content…

The main character justifies their reasoning behind the vile actions she has made. The antagonist never gets what they want, “They get the king’s son and the palace, and no more dishpan hands. Whereas all I get is the blame.” This confirms that goodhearted people always have a way to slide in and disrupt the evil taking place. This can relate to The Necklace, as the main theme of this text is the deceptiveness of people and objects. Madame Loisel wanted everyone to believe that she was wealthy, even if it was only for one magical evening. She craved the attention and vanity that the diamond necklace carried within itself, however it was later declared that it was an imitation thus making her feel ashamed. She lives in a fantasy world where she believed she entitled to more wealth and jewels henceforth she believes she has been scammed out of the use of her beauty and charm. These two characters have had nothing good happen to them because of their antagonistic and futile ways; Madame was not responsible about her losing Madame Forestier’s necklace and not simply telling her it was a mistake whilst the vicious sister in Unpopular Gal had a clouded judgement about her priorities thus making egotism and revenge to her sister her ultimate priority. These themes showcase the dreams and minds of these characters, as Gaiman

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Many people don’t have much value for themselves. This is may be because in this age technology is so readily available. We have a stronger opportunity to compare ourselves. A strong example is Cyrano De Bergerac, the head-strong protagonist from Edmond Rostand 's Cyrano De Bergerac, Cyrano is portrayed to be the mighty swashbuckler, he secretly possesses major doubts about his outward appearance. A reader can infer that, although his muzzle might be robust, he finds it makes for a great distraction from his glorious self.

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It reveals how people commit cruel acts out of selfish intentions. In this situation, the girls claim to “come to Heaven’s side” by pointing fingers at others for witchcraft, although they were only doing so to get themselves out of their own trouble. These acts of cruelty reflect upon the evil motives of the perpetrators that become more common after it is done once, as seen through the continuous trials and suspicions, which acts as one of the most major conflicts in the play. Without these cruel accusations, there would be neither plot nor ending. With this same situation, it can be concluded that accusations become more frequent during an interval of time when there are more people accusing.

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In the short story “The Necklace” Madame Loisel was a rich women who thought she was poor. She valued having a nice appearance and looking elegant. Madame Loisel borrowed a necklace that she thought was gorgeous, she then lost the necklace but didn’t want to tell the lady she lost it so she went to look for

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Those of you who believe vanity does not have a grip on you than i will tell you vanity influences things you do more than anyone realises because everyone wants the things someone else likes or favorites these are why I know vanity has a major influence over

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Madame Loisel learns in “The Necklace” that being greedy is not the way you want to live your life. In the beginning of the story, Madame Loisel is a greedy and spoiled person that thinks she deserves the most because she is beautiful. For example, when Madame Loisel gets upset over not having a nice dress for the ball she starts to cry, “Two great tears ran slowly from the corners of her eyes towards the corners of her mouth” (18). She demonstrates how greedy she is by already having an invitation to the ball but is still crying over her dress. This develops the theme that being greedy is not the way to live life because she shows greed and starts crying over her dress when other people would be incredibly ecstatic.

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The pendant is a key moment in June’s story; her mom is presenting a necklace that she has worn and now it is June’s turn to wear it and take in her mother’s meaning. Because of Suyuan's early words, it is clear her “meaning” is her pride and love towards her daughter. Suyuan is proud because her child chooses others over herself, and that humility is the best quality. Now, June must try to believe in herself as her mother believes in

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Instances of Displacement In Neil Gaiman’s “Bitter Grounds” “In every way that counted, I was dead,” begins the narrator-protagonist of Neil Gaiman’s “Bitter Grounds”, hinting at the theme of a profound shift in identity that will soon be explained. Indeed the reader will soon be introduced to a subtle slip from one reality into another through the eyes of a man faced with loss, love and his own identity. The elements of fantasy heighten the sense of displacement that accompanies the narrator from his initial purposelessness and self-exile, through the shaping of a new identity and search for a new purpose to his final act of abandon in the end. The idea of displacement, as evidenced by the very volume that features the story discussed

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(227). Mathilde's dishonest behavior represents her fear of appearing ordinary in front of society, when in fact, taking Madame Forestier’s necklace to appear affluent is an act. Her actions, conversations, and thoughts let readers understand Mathilde's distinct

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Madame Loisel and her Husband spent the last ten years to pay for the lost borrowed necklace, only to be told that the necklace cost “five hundred francs.” To add to the irony to the situation Madame Loisel lost her prized possession, her beauty, “She came to know what heavy housework meant... She washed the dishes, using her dainty fingers... she carried the slops down to the street every morning and carried up the water, stopping for breath at every landing. And dressed like a woman of the people...

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M. Lantin turned to his late wife’s jewelry collection; he knew that it was fake jewelry but he was desperate and was in need of money. He took the jewelry to a jewelry store expecting to receive only a few francs but then he was told he was receiving thousands of francs. M. Lantin was in shock and could not believe that the entire time it was real jewelry and not fake; he became a very wealthy man and resigned from his job, eventually marrying another woman who made his wife miserable. M. Lantin’s first wife had a big impact on his life; however, his selfish actions lead to what he deserved ending up with a wife that made him miserable. M. Lantin’s first wife was a young beautiful woman who he fell deeply in love with, she was the ideal woman that any of the men would want in their life.

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Loisel lives a decent life but constantly wants more, her greed and desire to be rich and wealthy is what ultimately brings the downfall of her character. On the night of the reception, Madame Loisel wears a magnificent diamond necklace from Madame Forestier. As Madame Loisel spends her time at the ball, she is able to live the life she believes she is entitled for. The happiest night of her life slowly becomes her worst nightmare. As she loses the necklace, and is unable to admit her mistake due to her excessive pride.

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He also demonstrates through his characters a human touch. The characters that are victimized are viewed with understanding and sympathy. The story of ‘The Necklace’ is about a lady called Mrs. Loisel who was born into a family with very normal social status. She settled for a life of mediocracy by marrying a minor clerk in the ministry of education.

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The protagonist of ‘The Necklace’, Madame Loisel, live a rather steady, ordinary middle-class life in the beginning of the story. However, she views that she is intended for a luxurious life, and, therefore, does not cherish what she has. She takes a step forward to her desires, as she was invited to a ball where all the upper-class woman would be, yet she was unhappy with the fact that she does not even have a stone to put on.

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