Who is the antagonist in "False Gems" by Guy De Maupassant?

This short story by Guy de Maupassant is also known as "The Jewelry."

There really cannot be said to be any antagonist in this story. The two principal characters are M. Lantin and his wife. The husband, of course, has always been taken for the "injured party" simply because of the shock of realization when he discovers the truth about his wife.

However, this does not automatically make the wife the antagonist. After all, consider these factors: The Lantins could live in ease because of the added (and unknown) income of the wife. During their life together, M. Lantin is probably the happiest husband one could think of. After the death of the wife, she still adds to Lantin's happiness by enabling him to become a rich man, leave his job, take a second wife.

If the reader insists on having an antagonist to the story, one may be found at the closing lines of the story. The second wife: She made M. Lantin miserable.

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