" Then the author goes on to
mention what the girl did not have in a way that implies that she ought
to have had all these things. She could not be wedded to "any rich and
distinguished man"; "she let herself be married to a little clerk."
The whole of the following description of Madam Loisel is one mass of
clever contrasts of the things she might have been, wanted to be, with
what she was and had. A little farther on, however, we get a different
sort of contrast. Though poor, she has a rich friend. Then her husband
brings home an invitation at which he is perfectly delighted.
Immediately she is shown wretched, a striking contrast. He is shown
patient; she is irritated. She is selfish in wishing a dress and
finery; he is unselfish in giving up his gun and the shooting.
With the ball the author gives us a description of Madam Loisel having
all she had dreamed of having. Her hopes are satisfied completely,
it appears, until suddenly, when she is about to go away, the fact of
her lack of wraps contrasts tellingly with her previous attractiveness.
These two little descriptions---one of the success of the ball, one of
hurrying away in shame, the wretched cab and all---are a most
forcible contrast, and most skilfully and naturally represented.
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