Diversity of "Flight Patterns" and "The Jewelry"

Diversity Involving “Flight Patterns” and “The Jewelry”
Critical Essay #1 | |

The short stories “Flight Patterns” by Sherman Alexie and “The Jewelry” by Guy de Maupassant were written in two different time periods but have similar themes. The authors come from different backgrounds as well, with Alexie being Native American and Maupassant being French. Despite their differences, Sherman Alexie and Guy de Maupassant both encourage diversity in their own way with “Flight Patterns” and “The Jewelry.”
Guy de Maupassant’s “The Jewelry” is a story about a man who marries what he thinks is the ideal woman only to have her die young and find out later that she was anything but “ideal.” The story takes place in 19th century Paris, as told by the author in the opening paragraph and with the reference of the protagonist’s salary of 3500 francs per year. The story ends with a tragic dénouement since the protagonist, M. Lantin, remarries but is ultimately miserable with his second wife whereas he was very happy with his first marriage.
Apparently, de Maupassant was very successful with this style of writing, and is regarded as the “unchallenged master of the short story in French” (Hawthorne 161). Even though his story was written over 200 years ago, it still resonates today with themes of love, despair, and the main theme of the story which is not judging a book by its cover. M. Lantin was very content and led a happy life with his first wife, even though he came to find out later that perhaps she had been up to no good. Everyone, including M. Lantin presumed her to be perfect: “The young girl seemed to be the very ideal of that pure good woman to whom every young man dreams to entrusting his future” (Booth 58). Appearances can be deceiving however, and ultimately it is presumed that the young woman was a courtesan, which is how she came about acquiring certain gifts of expensive jewelry. M. Lantin’s salary was very modest, but she made do and actually made sure...