Themes:

1- The Deceptiveness of Appearances:

The reality of Mathilde's situation is that she is neither wealthy

nor part of the social class of which she feels she is a deserving

member, but Mathilde does everything in her power to make her life

appear different from how it is. She lives in an illusory world where her

actual life does not match the ideal life she has in her head-she

believes that her beauty and charm make her worthy of greater things.The fact that it comes from Madame Forestier's jewelry box gives it the illusion of richness and value; had Monsieur Loisel suggested that Mathilde wear fake jewels, she surely would have scoffed at the idea, just as she scoffed at his suggestion to wear flowers.Furthermore, the fact that Madame Forestier-in Mathilde's view, the epitome of class and wealth-has a

-89-necklace made of fake jewels suggests that even the wealthiest members of society pretend to have more wealth than they actually have.Her wealth and class are simply illusions, and other people are

easily deceived.