the good things in her own life (and eventually to destroy them), but that's probably the most straightforward interpretation. From another angle, it could be said that the Loisel family learns how expensive it can be to pretend to have money. To me, however, the most interesting approach to the theme of materialism in "The Necklace" would be an analysis of the ways that Mathilde's desire to be, or at least appear, rich leads her to believe completely that the necklace must be real. It never occurs to Mathilde that Mme. Forestier would give her a necklace thatwasn't real, because a fake necklace wouldn't meet Mathilde's standards for or ideas of wealth.