The setting of "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant and "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin is set in 1800, when men played the dominant role over women. In both stories the protagonists each want a better life and each struggle to find it in a slightly different way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Kate Chopin and Guy de Maupassant make the best use of imagery and symbolism. In describing Mrs. Mallard's reaction to her husband's death, “The treetops trembling with new spring life… The notes of a distant song that someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows chirped in the gutters. " Immediately the symbol of the sparrow chirping gives the impression of rebirth. The trees all trembled with the new spring life which symbolizes a new beginning. A new beginning. In “The Necklace” Guy de Maupassant uses the following images and symbols: “ She suffered infinitely, feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury. She suffered from the poverty of her house, from its shabby walls, worn chairs and ugly curtains. All these things, of which other women of her class would not even be aware , they tormented her and insulted her. Once again, here one gets the impression of a shabby and unhappy house with all the worn and worn out material things as a symbol of old, aged and gloomy possessions. Obviously, these are not the things that the they would make her happy and give her the feeling of being young and lively. Although the Loisels are not of the lowest economic class, Mrs. Loisel dreams of becoming rich. This is to highlight the fact that he feels he can name so many things that are wrong in his life and so many things that he wants. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Both stories use irony to make a point. In "The Necklace" Madame Loisel is invited to a prestigious ball and borrows a necklace that she thought was very expensive and loses it. Mrs. Loisel and her husband knew they had to replace the necklace and saved for 10 years. Madame Loisel meets Madame Forrestier and is told that the necklace she thought was diamonds was fake. In "The Story of an Hour", when Mrs. Mallard's husband appears in the doorway very much alive and Mrs. Mallard sees him, she is the one who collapses and dies from the shock of being alive. “She died of heart disease “of joy that kills.” Both writers send the message that all the suffering could have been avoided if they had been content with what they already had instead of chasing rainbows.