Mathilde Loisel from “The Necklace” and Dee from “Everyday Use” can easily be compared and contrasted, because they treat others very similarly and the situations in which they pose or, unfortunately, fall 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. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The most significant thing to observe about Mathilde is her great attention to image. Throughout the entire story, his behaviors revolve around his motivation or desire to create a positive self-image for society. This can be seen more profoundly when preparing for the dance; she wants to make sure she is dressed appropriately so she can be considered rich. The way Mathilde addresses her husband gives the reader the 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 want me to do with it?" (Maupassant 2). He continues to behave ungratefully, complaining that he has nothing to wear and that he has no jewelry or precious stones to wear. Her husband encourages her behavior when he gives her money for a new dress and when he calls on the huge amount of loans she has taken out to pay off the replacement necklace. Of course, it's safe to deduce that her husband probably cares about image as much as she does because he goes out of his way to help her. At the beginning of the story, she was obsessed with appearing rich and felt she deserved to be. After she and her husband replace the necklace with a brand new one, going into debt in the process, Maupassant describes her impending descent into poverty. He had lived as he had never done before and finally, once he had paid off the debt in full, he told Madame Forestier what he had done and that he felt happy to have paid off the necklace. As the reader will discover, the original necklace was a fake. Guy de Maupassant used some irony towards the end of the story to further develop Mathilde's character. Mathilde is quite privileged at first, and although she was not rich, she had luxuries and money to live comfortably. She wishes she was rich and complains about how poor she is. In the end, she is poor and worse off than she was in the beginning. Dee, from “Everyday Use,” is intensely worried about separating from her family, or so it seems. Mom explains what she was like as a child and teenager, and her motivation doesn't change much; He continues to distance himself further and further from his family. This motivation is intentional and is demonstrated when the author writes: “[Dee] She wrote to me once that no matter where we 'choose' to live, she will be able to come visit us. But he will never bring his friends” (Walker 493). The author's choice of the word, manage, instead of promise or another equivalent word gives the reader the sense that Dee feels obligated and only said it because she felt that way. According to the narrator, Dee was always confident and wanted an education, rather than work like her mother did. The narrator explains that Dee often read to her family, but she read in a condescending way. When Dee explains that she wanted to be called Wangero, she says, "I couldn't stand it anymore, having the name of people oppressing me... I wasn't there before 'Dicie' popped up in our family, so why would it?" Do I try to go back that far?" (Walker 494). She, however, contradicts herself when she starts acting interested in the family heirlooms around the house. This.