In the short story "False Gems," the author Maupassant utilizes the concept of irony to contribute to social criticism. In the story Madame Latin states:

"What can I do? I am fond of jewelry. It is my only weakness. We cannot change our nature" (xxvi).

This cannot be true because she was "good and virtuous" when they first met. Her desire for money corrupted her, so she has changed. The author is mainly implying that money corrupts; in most cases, a person's desire for money can cause pain and sorrow. Her second weakness is her desire for money, which is a contribution to social criticism. Then, when Madame Latin dies M. Latin comprises a sincere hunger, and he begins to contemplate how Madame Latin. "..governed his household so cleverly and economically that they seemed to live in luxury," (xxv)and life becomes a struggle because a loved one...