Paul's Case Report

When comparing two fictional characters from two different writers one must first and foremost analyze their dreams, ambitions, or goals in the story. Whether the character is setting out to accomplish something physically, or they are on a personal or spiritual quest to find themselves. A character's ambitions can reveal a lot of underlying qualities that may not be as apparent at first glance from the reader. While many of the stories we have read this semester contain characters with very obvious similarities, I found that two in particular stood out for me the most. For the purposes of this paper I have chosen to write on Paul from Willa Cather's short story "Paul's Case" and Mathilde in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. I found that both of these characters complimented each other very nicely for this assignment, both wish to get a taste of lives they know they cannot have and in the end suffer for the thrill of it. Through the words of the authors we can see how miserable both characters are with their current stations in life and how much they strive to fit in with a "better" crowd. One may also see these characters as naпve, almost deserving of the tragedies that befall them due to the fact that they seem to dismiss their own class as inferior, and envy the upper class in the form of actors, aristocrats, political leaders, and social leaders.

In Cather's story of Paul's Case Paul is portrayed as being "tall for his age and very thin, with high, cramped shoulders and a narrow chest. (Kennedy)" He is referred to as using his eyes often in a very theatrical way. In these respects we learn from the very beginning that he doesn't fit in with the rest of his classmates and even his teachers. From the reference to his theatrical eyes which he "uses" we can easily deduce it is his attempt at playing the part of an upper class citizen that leads him to be shunned by his fellows. The line "His eyes were remarkable for a certain hysterical brilliancy and he continually used them in a conscious, theatrical sort of way..." is important because we later learn that his closes tie to this world he is longing for is an actor by the name of Charley Edwards. Paul feels that if he can emulate Edward's mannerisms and habits into his everyday life that he is somehow closer to the life he wants.

In direct comparison to this is Mathilde from Maupassant's "The Necklace." Like Paul she dreams of a life she is not born into and emulates those closest to her in higher society, namely her wealthy friend Mme. Forestier from whom she barrows the necklace. A good example of Mathilde's view on her station in life is in this passage from the story, (Kennedy) "She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was as unhappy as though she had really fallen from her proper station, since with women there is neither caste nor rank: and beauty, grace and charm act instead of family and birth. Natural fineness, instinct for what is elegant, suppleness of wit, are the sole hierarchy, and make from women of the people the equals of the very greatest ladies." The author is stating very plainly that Mathilde believes strongly and utterly that she ended up in the wrong social class, she is only happiest when consorting with the upper crust, and when wearing the most expensive and extravagant jewelry and gowns.

One might say that both of these characters are for the most part static and that is there main problem, through each of their stories they are attempting to change, to become dynamic. Though both Paul and Mathilde enjoy a brief taste of their better lives, they essentially lose their dreams to tragedy, in Mathilde's case the losing of