Final answer:
The theme of envy hindering happiness is prominent in 'The Necklace', along with a critical view of wealth's impact on morality and the worth of modest and beneficent living over material riches. The texts suggest that wealth does not guarantee happiness or moral superiority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of envy hampering happiness is a salient theme in the excerpt from “The Necklace”. The character's incessant comparison with those wealthier reflects a common predicament, where happiness becomes a mirage in the pursuit of material wealth. This is exemplified by the sentences focused on the admiration of the host's wealth and the character's subsequent self-pity – a contrast that highlights the corrosive effect of envy.
Another theme present in these excerpts is the moral and ethical considerations regarding wealth, suggesting that how one lives and the influence one leaves behind are of greater importance than the mere possession of wealth. This is shown in the passage that discusses the duty of a wealthy person to live modestly and organize benefactions.
Lastly, there is a suggestion that wealth does not equate to happiness or moral superiority. Phrases such as “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it” and reflections on the differences between the rich and non-rich suggest that a meaningful life can be lived independently of one's economic status, and that wisdom, perspective, and morality are not the sole provinces of the affluent.