In Mauassant's essay, The Necklace Matilda Loisel borrowed a necklace from a rich friend, Mrs Forestier, so that she would not present a "shabby air in the midst of rich women." She loses the necklace but refuses to admit that. Her and her husband, not realizing that the necklace was fake, buy a similar necklace to return to Mrs Forestier. They end up having to work for ten years to pay off this debt. All of Mme. Loisel's actions leading up to the loss of the necklace were directed by an attempt to maintain her false sense of pride, for which she gave up her dignity over the next ten years…
