The Necklace – Guy de Maupassant short story

Summary of “The Necklace”

Introduction
The story is set in Paris in the late 19th century. It tells of Madame Mathilde Loisel, a young, beautiful woman who dreams of wealth, luxury, and a glamorous life. However, she is married to a simple clerk, Monsieur Loisel, who works in the Ministry of Education. They live a modest life, which makes Mathilde feel dissatisfied and unfortunate.

The Invitation
One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a grand ball at the Ministry. He hopes to please her, but Mathilde is upset because she has nothing elegant to wear. To make her happy, her husband sacrifices his savings (which he planned to use for a hunting gun) and gives her money to buy a beautiful dress.

Still unhappy, Mathilde complains that she lacks fine jewelry. To solve this, her husband suggests borrowing some. She visits her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, and borrows a stunning diamond necklace.

The Ball
At the ball, Mathilde is the most admired woman—graceful, charming, and radiant. She enjoys the evening immensely. But when she and her husband return home, she discovers that the necklace is missing.

The Loss
They search everywhere but cannot find it. Too ashamed to tell Madame Forestier the truth, they decide to replace the necklace. They borrow huge sums of money and buy a similar one for thirty-six thousand francs—a fortune.

Ten Years of Hardship
To repay the debt, the Loisels work tirelessly for ten years. They dismiss their servant, live in poverty, and Mathilde loses her beauty—her hands grow rough, her back bends, and she looks old and worn.

The Twist Ending
One day, after the debt is finally paid, Mathilde meets Madame Forestier. She decides to confess the truth about the necklace. To her shock, Madame Forestier reveals that the original necklace was a fake—worth no more than 500 francs.

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