
Action and reaction, cause and effect.  Choices made in life are based from many things, but the most influential aspects behind decision making comes from both past experiences and motivational incentives.  These factors decide the choice, while the choice portrays the individual.  The relationship between the stories Bartleby the Scrivener and The Necklace is that choices are a direct representation of who a person is, and what they desire. When a person makes a decision, there is relative certainty to the outcome that follows.  Both texts are similar and different in a number of ways, there is one relatable part of each story.  The choices made in these both Mathilde and Bartleby result in despair.  One decided to make a choice, while the other slowly loses the will to act (Or decides not to act).  Choices are made every day, some more important than others, and some with contrasting consequences.  Decisions are inevitably made, some with or without thought; these involve past experience and motivating incentives, and while person cannot accurately predict the consequences of all decisions, they must prepare for them.  

In Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener", a new employee begins working for the narrator at his law office.  Bartleby, at first is praised for his work ethic and output into the firm, rapidly becomes lethargic.  Soon Bartleby refuses to do the work he was hired to do.  At first the narrator is taken aback by Bartleby's reaction to his simple request, believing he would not have a problem with the scrivener.  Instead, Bartleby's calm and collect behavior stuns his superior to the point of him returning to his desk.  As Bartleby's decline begins, he quickly descends lower and lower down a ladder until his only response to every request is a glum "I would prefer not to (Melville)".  This response becomes habit, and the narrator cannot make the choice to fire him, out of either curiosity or pity.  The narrator refuses to call authorities after Bartleby refuses to leave the office, and so decides to move his office elsewhere.  Bartleby continues his destructive path till the narrator finds he's been imprisoned, and when offered food responded with the same preference ultimately leading to his death.  

In Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace", a contrasting but similar theme is portrayed.  The main character is Mathilde Loisel, a woman who seeks for more than what she has.  Her husband works hard for what possessions they have, but she envisions herself elsewhere.  When the two are invited to ball, she begins to cry out to her husband telling him to give the invitation to one of his friends because of her lack of fine clothing.  Monsieur Loisel offers to buy a dress for the occasion and gives her what little money he has.  When the ball approaches, she complains: "It annoys me not to have a single jewel, not a single stone, nothing to put on.  I should almost rather not go at all" (Maupassant).  Mathilde visits a wealthy friend to borrow jewels for the ball, Madame Forestier.  What she decides upon, an apparent diamond necklace beautiful in appearance but quite a facade in hindsight.  When the night comes, she has what she wanted, an appearance other than her true self.  When the night concludes, both the Loisels' realize their misfortune when Mathilde has lost the necklace.  This mistake will cause them great turmoil for the next decade.  

In these two texts it is clear that decisions made can alter the outcome of one's life.  Mathilde Loisel is a woman who believes she is destined for riches and glamour.  Throughout Guy De Maupassant's "The Necklace", Mathilde places objects and appearances over above all else.  The chance at glamour ultimately leads to the biggest mistake of her life.  Contrasting, the text from Bartleby describes a man who decides not to make choices.  Instead, Bartleby gives up the will to act and makes choices that lead to his death.  

The difference between these two texts is clear; one acts while the other remains stagnant. While the difference is in the choice made by both characters, there is relation in the causes of these decisions.  Based on a study conducted by Stephen Broomell, decision making relies heavily on past experience and motivational incentives (Broomell).  Bartleby made his decision not to act because of his past experiences, while Mathilde made hers based on the incentives she seeks.   As for Bartleby, his past experience in the dead letter office might have caused him emotional harm because of the nature of his work.  Bartleby would work hours on end sifting through mail that had no destination.  This type of work possibly hindered his outlook on his future, leading him to the choice of having no future.  On the other hand, Mathilde's pursuit of a higher status was the motivation to make her decisions.  From milking her husband for money to borrowing Ms. Forestier's necklace.  At the end of the story, it is revealed this necklace is no more artificial than the one who wore it.  "Oh, my poor Mathilde. But mine were false. At most they were worth five hundred francs" (Maupassant), the lie of the necklace can be interpreted as the lie of wealth.  Mathilde was unaware, and because of this both Loisel's would waste their remaining youth to repay the debt.  

The freedom of choice is one that people take for granted almost every day.  Choices made can shape the future of a person's life, and they should be taken with great care.  That said, decisions must be made because if not someone might make them for you.  As Bartleby continues his destructive path, he adds something to his responses: "I would not like it at all; though, as I said before, I am not particular"(Maupassant).  This strange declaration by Bartleby claims he is not picky.  He does not have a care for what happens to him.  A person also needs to be strong enough to live with the consequences and reactions to those decisions.  Every choice needs to be a conscious decision; the possibilities need to be evaluated then weighed.  Choices often influence others decisions and change their lives in different ways.  

Choices are made every day, some more important than others, and some with contrasting consequences.  Whereas Mathilde Loisel is a woman wanting more out of life in the wrong way, by attempting a facade to be content, Bartleby is a man who increasingly does not want anything in life; to be left to dwell.   Decisions made in these two texts symbolize the importance of making the right choice.  But what defines a right choice?  Was Mathilde Loisel supposed to know that the outcome of that night would be so catastrophic?  Is she entirely wrong for her actions?  What caused Bartleby to change from a hard dependable worker to a person on autopilot?  Some questions remain unanswered in both texts; but to the reader it is clear that both characters Bartleby and Mathilde made choices that left them in a darker place.  Their lives wasted away because of these decisions.  As a result of these reading these two texts, the choices made in everyday life can be found uplifting, or can be suffocating.  A person must not act before thought; therefore a choice should not be taken with ease.  

