A Short Story: Helen´s Violent Relationship

He took matters into his own hands and killed the stepmother so that she couldn’t hurt anyone again like she hurt him.

     By losing this father figure she was left to fend for herself and was virtually helpless.

She did not take into consideration how her choices affected herself and those around her. In the story, she chose to go to a wealthier friend than herself to borrow a piece of jewelry for the party. She was absolutely ecstatic when she found what she felt was the perfect piece for her. This is proven in the narrative, where it reads, “All at once she found, in a black satin box, a superb diamond necklace; and her pulse beat faster with longing” (76). This proves that she was attracted to what she felt was a perfect necklace made of diamond, rather than a different, less extravagant piece that she could have chosen.

them, so she often distanced herself. What a complicated woman she was, we sometimes thought

There was a time when social classes were most easily identified through material goods and possessions. Whether wealth was gained through inheritance or hard work, it was the luxury items that made the most visible and tangible statement regarding a person’s social status. Men could rely on a large house or expensive car to proclaim the success they had earned. It was much more common to see women adorned in jewels, designer clothes, and furs as symbols of her upper class status. The extravagance of a woman’s appearance was a reflection of the success of her husband, so it was natural to indulge her desire for expensive material possessions.

She pleaded to him to show some feeling towards her. Everyday was harder for her to get through as she saw less of her husband.

you” (3.138). It is not only that Helen is not to have any choice in the

He realized he was the reason she lived a life of loneliness and seclusion. Sadly, he realized too late

his pride prevented him from asking to stay with her and he banished her. They are aware that he would need to live

He had abused her emotionally and even psychologically . He didn't even see or realize this kind of abuse was happening or he didn't care ? Only God knows. It tore her apart but

His lack of love made him lash out at her in a way that would hurt her.

The story even points out that most women of her status are content with what they have, but she is not. Mme. Loisel dreams of living is world full of exotic luxuries, liveried servants and rich banquets. She wishes for a wonderful home full of expensive, ornamental things and closets of fine dresses and glittering jewels. Her idea of the life of an upper class woman is very romanticized and sounds like it comes directly out of a cheap novel. She wishes she was upper class so that she could have one "of the coquettish perfumed boudoirs made for talks at five o'clock with intimate friends" (p. 758). This is a sweet idea, but the chances of it being very realistic (even among the richest people) are not very good.

jobs she was meant to. She was very gullible and she did not sense the

full of expensive jewels from him that she found in the rich man's house. When

getting comfortable clothing, good meal and money. People knew her as Mrs. Drouet and she liked it. Through Drouet Carrie met