"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant and "Hearts and Hands" by O'Henry share a similar theme of "things are not always what they appear." "The Necklace" uses a more negative tone while "Hearts and Hands" uses a more positive tone to show the theme.
To begin, Maupassant, author of "The Necklace" introduces his theme by punishing the protagonist for her greed. Madame Loisel wants to appear wealthier than she is so, she unknowingly borrows a faux necklace, loses it, and forces herself to pay for it. Her lender, Madame Forestier, says in paragraph 115 and 120,"'You say you bought a diamond necklace to replace mine? …But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most 500 francs!" Mathilde's desire to appear