The Necklace When they finally return home, Mathilde is saddened that the night has

Guy de Maupassant ended. As she removes her wrap, she discovers that her necklace is no longer
Full Plot Summary around her neck. In a panic, Monsieur Loisel goes outside and retraces their
steps. Terrified, she sits and waits for him. He returns home much later in an even
Mathilde Loisel is “pretty and charming” but feels she has been born into greater panic—he has not found the necklace. He instructs her to write to
a family of unfavorable economic status. She was married off to a lowly clerk in Madame Forestier and say that she has broken the clasp of the necklace and is
the Ministry of Education, who can afford to provide her only with a modest getting it mended.
though not uncomfortable lifestyle. Mathilde feels the burden of her poverty They continue to look for the necklace. After a week, Monsieur Loisel
intensely. She regrets her lot in life and spends endless hours imagining a more says they have to see about replacing it. They visit many jewelers, searching for a
extravagant existence. While her husband expresses his pleasure at the small, similar necklace, and finally find one. It costs 40,000 francs, although the jeweler
modest supper she has prepared for him, she dreams of an elaborate feast served says he will give it to them for 36,000. The Loisels spend a week scraping up
on fancy China and eaten in the company of wealthy friends. She possesses no money from all kinds of sources, mortgaging the rest of their existence. After
fancy jewels or clothing, yet these are the only things she lives for. Without them, three days, Monsieur Loisel purchases the necklace. When Mathilde returns the
she feels she is not desirable. She has one wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, but necklace, in its case, to Madame Forestier, Madame Forestier is annoyed at how
refuses to visit her because of the heartbreak it brings her. long it has taken to get it back but does not open the case to inspect it. Mathilde is
One night, her husband returns home proudly bearing an invitation to a relieved.
formal party hosted by the Ministry of Education. He hopes that Mathilde will be The Loisels began to live a life of crippling poverty. They dismiss their
thrilled with the chance to attend an event of this sort, but she is instantly angry servant and move into an even smaller apartment. Monsieur Loisel works three
and begins to cry. Through her tears, she tells him that she has nothing to wear jobs, and Mathilde spends all her time doing the heavy housework. This misery
and he ought to give the invitation to one of his friends whose wife can afford lasts ten years, but in the end, they have repaid their financial debts. Mathilde’s
better clothing. Her husband is upset by her reaction and asks how much a extraordinary beauty is now gone: she looks just like the other women of poor
suitable dress would cost. She thinks about it carefully and tells him that 400 households. They are both tired and irrevocably damaged from these years of
francs would be enough. Her husband quietly balks at the sum but agrees that she hardship.
may have the money. One Sunday, while she is out for a walk, Mathilde spots Madame
As the day of the party approaches, Mathilde starts to behave oddly. She Forestier. Feeling emotional, she approaches her and offers greetings. Madame
confesses that the reason for her behavior is her lack of jewels. Monsieur Loisel Forestier does not recognize her, and when Mathilde identifies herself, Madame
suggests that she wear flowers, but she refuses. He implores her to visit Madame Forestier cannot help but exclaim that she looks different. Mathilde says that the
Forestier and borrow something from her. Madame Forestier agrees to lend change was on her account and explains to her the long saga of losing the
Mathilde her jewels, and Mathilde selects a diamond necklace. She is overcome necklace, replacing it, and working for ten years to repay the debts. At the end of
with gratitude at Madame Forestier’s generosity. her story, Madame Forestier clasps her hands and tells Mathilde the original
At the party, Mathilde is the most beautiful woman in attendance, and necklace was just costume jewelry and not worth anything.
everyone notices her. She is intoxicated by the attention and has an Source: https://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/the-necklace/summary/ retrieved on March 11, 2023

overwhelming sense of self-satisfaction. At 4 a.m., she finally looks for Monsieur