Compare Mathilde and her Husband¨The Necklace¨

Initially Mathilde Loisel isn't a very sympathetic character. Her husband works hard to provide for the family even extending himself to give her some of the finer things in life (as much as he can). Mathilde is not satisfied, she would have preferred a husband with better prospects. Mathilde, not born into luxury, feels she is owed a life of luxury. While her husband feels satisfied with living a humble middle class life, Mathilde feels the life of a mere clerk's wife is beneath her.