Final answer:
Mathilde's envy and pride in 'The Necklace' lead to the central conflict when she loses a borrowed necklace, resulting in years of hardship to replace it. The setting of 19th century Paris underscores the social disparities that influence her actions, culminating in a twist that reveals the deceptive nature of appearances.
Step-by-step explanation:
In “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, Mathilde's actions, beliefs, and interactions significantly develop the story’s conflict. She envies the wealthy and is disgruntled with her middle-class life, which leads her to borrow a seemingly expensive necklace to impress at a high-society event. Upon losing the necklace, her and her husband's lives are consumed by debt to replace the item, illustrating the theme of the dangers of vanity and the unpredictability of life. The setting in 19th century Paris heightens the social inequalities that Mathilde is acutely aware of. The story's suspenseful resolution comes from the twist ending where it is revealed that the lost necklace was a fake, suggesting that appearances can be deceptive.
The character interaction between Mathilde and her friend, from whom she borrowed the necklace, adds to her character development and the plot’s tension. Mathilde's initial pride prevents her from admitting the loss to her friend, which propels the plot into the years of hardship that follow. The setting's role is pivotal as it reflects the social structure and norms that contribute to Mathilde's discontent and the subsequent conflict.