her marriage

her desire to be wealthy

her poor health

her wish for more friends

He cares a lot about his wife's happiness.

He has grown tired of his wife's complaints.

He cares too much about unimportant things.

He enjoys accompanying his wife to fancy receptions.

equality

companionship

sympathy

envy

a bitter quarrel with Madame Forestier

divorce from Monsieur Loisel

the couple's move from the city to the countryside

a life of poverty and hard physical labor

metaphor

irony

flashback

point of view