Critical Theory: CulturalWhen it comes to making decisions, we tend to choose based on what we have learned or been taught about our culture. Culture plays a significant role in how we make our choices. Professor Donnel Briley of Research Frontier concluded: “People from different cultural backgrounds have different expectations, norms and values, which in turn have the potential to influence their judgments and decisions, as well as their subsequent behaviour.” (Briley) In two specific stories, we find two women trapped within 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 troubled young woman who is left to raise her younger siblings alongside her father in his dull town of Dublin. When given the chance to change her destiny, she finds herself in a moment of suspense facing her fiancée and faced with the important decision to escape her responsibilities. Mathilde Loisel, from the story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, is confined within the limits of society's expectations of women of her time. She is confronted and torn by the knowledge of her current financial situation, and when she is given the opportunity to appear more valuable by accessorizing in that way, she makes a huge decision that will affect her and her husband's life forever. Although culture can be represented by ethnic backgrounds or world origins, this article will use women's culture with an approach to the significance of cultural backgrounds that influence decision making. Culture will influence important decisions because culture is often inherited and not learned; secondly, a hereditary culture is often expected; and I... halfway through the paper... society's expectations on that day made her depressed and full of regrets about her life. She compared herself to other women to try to live up to their worth based on her appearance. While preparing to attend an event, she is stressed about her outfit and worried about her accessories; she spends her husband's savings and borrows a beautiful, tempting necklace from Madame Forestier. With this action, Mrs. Loisel enacts an expectation of society. She chooses to please others while dressing out of a desire to be accepted by those she deems wealthy. She managed to get noticed because “all the men stared at her, asked her name and asked to be introduced to her. The minister noticed her." (Joyce) Ultimately, both Eveline and Mathilde have led lives that demonstrate this point of high expectations of culture. END SECOND DRAFT QUOTED BELOW