Almost every human experiences internal battles between egotistical and benevolent thoughts. The rest of society has a hard time perceiving such conflicts until they becomes externalized. When the feelings or views come to surface, in many cases, the self-seeking, narcissistic side displays through more frequently. Often, if an individual relishes in the particular behavior, then he or she can, in some ways, become detached from a humble and moral life. Because Tessie Hutchinson in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” possesses selfish and hypocritical qualities and Mathilde Loisel in Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” exhibits a selfish and manipulative personality, they both live an uncomfortable life.
To begin, Tessie Hutchinson displays an incredible …show more content…
For the evening, she got to be everything she was not. Maupassant describes, “The day of the party came. Mrs. Loisel was a success. She was prettier than anyone else, stylish, graceful, smiling and wild with joy” (9; 52). For the short period, Mathilde does enjoy her time. Maupassant illustrates, “She danced joyfully, passionately, intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but the moment…” (9; 53). Nevertheless, in one quick careless moment, Mathilde loses the borrowed necklace. She was so caught up in a night full of superficial people; however, she will not—for a very long time—see such a night again. Maupassant shows the reader her new life by describing, “Mrs. Loisel soon discovered the horrible life of the needy. She did her share, however, completely, heroically. That horrifying debt had to be paid. She would pay” (12; 98). The viewer learns, “at the end of ten years, they had paid back everything…” (12; 103). The effect of her losing the necklace comes into the aspect of her physical and mental demeanor: “Mrs. Loisel looked old now. She had become the strong, hard, and rude woman of poor households” (12; 104). Though, if she was not too selfish, stubborn, and manipulative she would have quickly found out that it was “costume jewelry” (13;