Why did M. Loisel expect his wife to be pleased to receive the invitation from the Minister of Education?

M. Loisel
expected his wife to be pleased at the invitation from the Minster of Education because they
were invited to a grand dress-up event, and M. Loisel knew how much his wife loved luxury and
finery.

To his great surprise, she is not pleased, and he says to her that he
thought she would be happy because:

You never go out, and
this is such a fine opportunity. I had awful trouble to get it. Everyone wants to go; it is very
select, and they are not giving many invitations to clerks. The whole official world will be
there.

Madame Loisel is unhappy, however, because she
feels she has nothing suitable to wear and will, therefore, be looked down upon by the other
women at the ball. She cannot bear the thought of not shining and standing out against other
people. She is also unhappy that she has no jewels to wear. When her husband suggests flowers,
that is not good enough. Madame Loisel is not content to go to the ball and be able to look at
other people and enjoy the event: she wants others to admire her. That is why she makes the
fateful decision to borrow the diamond necklace.