The Necklace

One of the themes of ''The Necklace'' involves the concept of happiness. What moral could de Maupassant be expressing about honest?

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Although she does not have a lot of money, Madame Loisel may be justly characterized as greedy. Her life is comfortable enough to afford one servant, but she wishes for several. She has plenty of food, but she dreams of "delicate meals." Her husband can barely afford to buy her a ball gown, but she insists on having jewelry to go with it. When she first sees her friend's diamond necklace, "her heart [beats] covetously." Her greed stands in marked contrast to the generosity of her husband and Madame Forestier. It didn't occur to Madame Loisel that she had a happy life before she was invited to the ball. Her misery was brought about by her own greed.