"The Necklace" Summary and Analysis

"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Characters

  • Mathilde Loisel: The protagonist, a pretty and charming woman born into a family of clerks. She is unhappy with her modest life and dreams of luxury.
  • Monsieur Loisel: Mathilde's husband, a little clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction. He tries to please his wife and provide for her.
  • Madame Forestier (Jeanne): Mathilde's rich former schoolmate.

Plot Summary

  • Mathilde's Dissatisfaction: Mathilde is constantly unhappy with her simple life, feeling entitled to luxury and delicacies. She is tormented by the bareness of her dwelling, the shabby furniture, and the lack of wealth. She dreams of silent antechambers, Oriental tapestries, bronze candelabras, and footmen. She also dreams of long reception halls, ancient silk, priceless curiosities, and chatting with famous and sought-after men.
  • An Invitation: Monsieur Loisel receives an invitation to a ball at the Ministry of Public Instruction and hopes his wife will be delighted. However, Mathilde is upset because she has nothing suitable to wear.
  • The Gown: Mathilde asks her husband for money to buy a gown. After some hesitation, she estimates she needs 400400 francs. M. Loisel reluctantly agrees to give her the money, sacrificing his own plans to buy a gun for a summer lark-shooting trip with friends.
  • Borrowing Jewelry: Mathilde is still unhappy because she has no jewelry to wear with her gown. Her husband suggests she borrow some from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier.
  • Choosing the Necklace: Mathilde visits Madame Forestier, who shows her a variety of jewels. Mathilde chooses a superb diamond necklace and is ecstatic. Madame Forestier agrees to lend it to her.
  • The Ball: Mathilde is a great success at the ball. She is the prettiest woman present, and all the men admire her. She dances with rapture and is intoxicated by pleasure.
  • The Loss: As they leave the ball, Mathilde and her husband cannot find a carriage. They eventually find an old night cab. When Mathilde arrives home, she discovers that the diamond necklace is gone.
  • The Search: The Loisels search everywhere for the necklace but cannot find it. M. Loisel goes back to the streets to look, and they report the loss to the police and newspapers, offering a reward.
  • The Replacement: After a week, they decide to replace the necklace. They find a similar one at the Palais Royal that costs 40,00040,000 francs, but they are able to negotiate the price down to 36,00036,000 francs. They arrange to buy it back for 34,00034,000 francs if the lost necklace is found before the end of February.
  • Debt and Hardship: M. Loisel uses his inheritance of 18,00018,000 francs and borrows the rest of the money at high interest rates. They buy the necklace and return it to Madame Forestier. The Loisels' life changes dramatically as they struggle to repay the debt. They dismiss their servant, move to a garret, and take on heavy housework. Mathilde washes dishes, does laundry, and bargains for groceries. M. Loisel works evenings and copies manuscripts to earn extra money.
  • Ten Years of Labor: The Loisels work for ten years to repay the debt, enduring poverty and hardship. Mathilde loses her beauty and becomes a strong, hard, and rough woman.
  • The Revelation: One Sunday, Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier in the Champs Elysees. Mathilde tells her the story of losing the necklace and replacing it. Madame Forestier reveals that the original necklace was made of paste and worth at most 500500 francs.

Themes

  • The Illusion of Appearances: The story explores the theme of appearance versus reality. Mathilde is obsessed with appearing wealthy and successful, even though she is not. The diamond necklace, which seems valuable, turns out to be fake, symbolizing the superficiality of her desires.
  • The Consequences of Deception: The Loisels' decision to replace the necklace with an identical one leads to ten years of hardship and poverty. Their attempt to maintain appearances results in a significant decline in their quality of life.
  • Irony: The story is filled with irony. Mathilde's desire for a better life leads to a much worse one. The necklace, which she believes will bring her happiness, causes her misery. The fact that the necklace was fake all along is the ultimate irony.
  • Status and Class: Mathilde's obsession with social status and her desire to be part of a higher class drive the plot. The story critiques the values of a society that places so much emphasis on wealth and appearance.
  • The Value of Honesty: The Loisels' decision to deceive Madame Forestier leads to their downfall. Had they been honest about losing the necklace, they could have avoided years of hardship.

Irony

  • Dramatic Irony: The reader knows that the necklace is fake before Mathilde does, creating suspense and highlighting the tragic consequences of her actions.
  • Situational Irony: Mathilde's efforts to improve her life lead to the opposite result. She sacrifices everything to replace a necklace that was essentially worthless.
  • Verbal Irony: There is no apparent verbal irony in the story.

Additional Notes

  • The story is set in 19th-century Paris.
  • The narrative emphasizes the importance of appreciating what one has and not living beyond one's means.
  • The story also highlights the destructive nature of pride and the importance of honesty and integrity.
  • The narrator's says that trouble comes from denying one's reality.
  • The story revolves around Mathilde's discovery of her character.