The previous happiness is further set into relief by the utter
wretchedness she experiences upon discovering the loss of the necklace.
Then we have her new life of hard work, which we contrast in mind not only
with what she had really been having, but with that which she had dreamed
of having, had seemed about to realize, and had suddenly lost for ever.
Then at last we have the contrast, elaborate, strongly drawn and
telling, between Madam Loisel after ten years and her friend,
who represents in flesh and blood what she might have been.
Then at the end comes the short, sharp contrast of paste and diamonds.
In using contrast one does not have to search for something to set up
against something else. Every situation has a certain breadth, it has
two sides, whether they are far apart or near together. To give the
real effect of a conception it is necessary to pass from one side to the
other very rapidly and frequently, for only in so doing can one keep the
whole situation in mind. One must see the whole story, both sides and
all in between, at the same time. The more one sees at the same time,
the more of life one grasps and the more invigorating is the
composition.
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