Critical Theory: Cultural: When it comes to making decisions, we tend to choose based on what we have been taught or learned about our culture. Culture plays an important role in how we make choices. Professor Donnel Briley of Research Frontier concluded: “People from different cultural backgrounds have different expectations, norms and values, which in turn can influence their judgments and decisions as well as their subsequent behavior. » (Briley) In two specific short stories, we find two women trapped in these cultural "expectations, norms and values" that force them to make an abrupt and rash decision. Eveline Hill, from James Joyce's short story "Eveline", is a tormented young woman who must raise her younger siblings alongside her father in her monotonous small town of Dublin. When she is given the chance to change her destiny, she finds herself in a moment of suspense facing her fiancée and faced with a major decision to escape her responsibilities. Mathilde Loisel, from the story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, is confined within the confines of society's expectations of the women of her time. She is confronted and conflicted with the awareness of her current financial situation and when given the opportunity to appear more valuable by accessorizing herself in this way, she makes a huge decision that will forever affect her life and that of her husband. Although culture can be represented by ethnic backgrounds or global backgrounds, this article will use women's culture with an approach to the importance of cultural backgrounds in decision making. Culture will influence major decisions because it is often inherited and not learned; second, inherited culture is often expected; and I...... middle of paper......society's expectations at that time, it made her depressed and full of regrets for her life. She compared herself to other women to try to measure her worth by her appearance. As she prepares to attend an event, she worries about her attire and worries about her accessories; she spends her husband's savings and borrows a beautiful, tempting necklace from Madame Forestier. Through this action, Madame Loisel portrays an expectation of society. She chooses to please others by dressing with the desire to be accepted by those she considers wealthy. She managed to get noticed because “all the men looked at her, asked her name and asked to be introduced. The minister noticed it. (Joyce) Ultimately, Eveline and Mathilde led lives that exemplify this point of culture's high expectations. END SECOND PROJECTS QUOTED TO FOLLOW