Moreover, he sarcastically dismissed the women's rights movement as nothing more than an uprising of skirts. With no effort to hide his scorn, the author suggested that men recognize only one right in women: the right to please. He approvingly kissed the rosy fingertips of ladies who aimed, above all, to be beautiful and seductive.
These glib opinions, which were published in French journals, reflect a type of scrutiny applied to women that put the less wealthy, such as Madame Loisel in "The Necklace," at a disadvantage. Women with limited financial resources found it much more difficult to attain the level of appearance expected in French society. It is not surprising, then, that the main character in "The Necklace" hesitates to be seen in plain clothing. Anything other than vain and shallow pretensions would meet with disapproval. In de Maupassant's opinion, the female should strive to be a charming and an eye-pleasing ornament for the pleasure of male existence.
De Maupassant's lifestyle reflected his dismissive view of women. He became famous for his casual sexual relationships, and eventually died of syphilis, a common sexually transmitted disease in the nineteenth century.
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