A Comparison of Dee and Mathilde Taylor Cabrera College

Mathilde Loisel of “The Necklace” and Dee of “Everyday Use” can easily be compared and contrasted, for they treat others very similarly, and the situations that they either put themselves in or, unfortunately, fall into are ironic. Although the stories take place in completely different settings, the similarities between the two are striking. The authors of “The Necklace” and “Everyday Use” use irony and characterization to illustrate the personalities and motivations of Mathilde and Dee.

The most significant aspect to observe about Mathilde is her huge attention to image. Throughout the entire story, her behaviors circle around her motive or desire to create a positive self-image for society. This can be seen most profoundly when she is preparing for the ball; she wants to make sure that she is properly dressed so that she can be seen as wealthy. The manner that Mathilde speaks to her husband gives the reader an impression that she is spoiled and very ungrateful. When told that they have received an invitation, Mathilde responds, with an exclamation of disgust, “What do you wish me to do with that?” (Maupassant 2). She continues to act ungrateful, complaining she has nothing to wear as well as complaining that she had no fine...