At the very beginning of Guy de Maupassant's "A Wedding Gift," one of the contradictions has already reared its head. Jacques, the main character, has sworn to never marry, but this oath to himself had been immediately broken the moment he laid eyes on Berthe, and they become a married couple soon after. Another contradiction found in the story is the title itself. Normally, a wedding gift is expected to be a joyous thing; however, Jacques knows that the baby--which was the wedding gift--had only been given to him because his former lover had reached the end of her days.
Three contradictions were present in Maupassant's "A Wedding Gift". First is found in the first stanza which stated that Jacques Bourdilliere had sworn never to marry. This vow was suddenly broken when he saw Berthe. The two married too soon.
Second is when the story spoke of the binding attachment that was broken between Jacques and his former lover. A binding attachment is not supposed to be broken, from the phrase itself.
Third contradiction is the title of the story. The child was a wedding gift for the newly-wed couple brought by the tragedy of Jacques' former lover. A tragedy is unusual to be interpreted as a gift, especially at a wedding.
