essay the necklace

A Summary and Analysis of Guy de Maupassant’s ‘The Necklace’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Necklace’ is an 1884 short story by the French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850-93), first published in Le Gaulois as ‘La parure’ in February of that year. If you’re unfamiliar with Maupassant’s work, ‘The Necklace’ is his most famous tale, and worth taking the time to read. If you’re a fan of stories with twist endings , you’ll probably love it.

Plot summary

Mathilde Loisel is a pretty woman who is married to a clerk who works in the Ministry of Education. They do not have much money, and Mathilde spends her days fantasising that her life is more glamorous and upmarket than it actually is.

When her husband is invited to a ball hosted by the minister for whom he works, he is keen for them both to attend, but Mathilde tells him she has nothing to wear to such a high-class social occasion. He tells her he will buy her a nice dress, even though it will mean sacrificing his own pleasure.

Then, Mathilde becomes worried that she has no jewels to wear with the dress. Loisel, her husband, suggests she ask her friend, Madame Forestier, if she has something she will lend to Mathilde for the night. Madame Forestier is happy for her friend to borrow whatever she wants, and Mathilde chooses a diamond necklace.

Mathilde enjoys the ball, and especially likes all of the attention she attracts from the men in attendance. When they are due to leave, at four in the morning, they go outside and try to find a cab to take them home. When they arrive home, however, Mathilde is horrified to discover she has lost the necklace!

Loisel retraces their steps but cannot find the lost necklace anywhere. They realise that they will have to replace the necklace, whatever the cost. To buy them some time, they compose a letter to Madame Forestier, claiming that they are having the necklace repaired. They then try to find out where the necklace was made, and have to buy the clasp and the diamonds from separate jewellers.

Loisel racks up thousands of francs in debt, borrowing from friends and from professional moneylenders to raise the cash. They finally have the necklace, which is returned to Madame Forestier, but now they have to pay back the money to all of their creditors.

This takes them ten long years. They dismiss their servant girl and Mathilde has to perform all of the housework, which ages her rapidly. Loisel, meanwhile, takes on a second job, working for a merchant in the evenings. Finally, though, their debts are cleared.

One day, Mathilde bumps into Madame Forestier, who doesn’t recognise her at first because her friend looks so poor and haggard. Now the debt is paid off, Mathilde feels she can tell her friend the truth, and confesses that she lost her friend’s necklace and she and her husband had to buy a replacement.

In a twist, Madame Forestier tells her friend that the necklace she lent Mathilde was made of imitation diamonds, and was virtually worthless. Mathilde and her husband had spent ten years toiling away for no reason.

In ‘The Necklace’, Guy de Maupassant explores the relationship between appearance and reality. The necklace, of course, is the most explicit example of this: it looks like a genuine diamond necklace but is actually an imitation or fake. And this final twist in the tale leads us to think more carefully about the other details of the story.

But ‘The Necklace’ is more specifically about the dangers of not being happy with what one has, and always wanting more. The nineteenth century saw a rise in the prevalance of consumerism, with many middle-class people seeking to improve their lot and keep up with their friends and neighbours in terms of their possessions, clothes, and social status.

Although Maupassant’s story is hardly searing social satire, the fate of the female protagonist does act as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing consumerist gratification in order to impress and be admired by others. The Loisels have a perfectly comfortable lower-middle-class life, and Mathilde has one servant to help around the house.

But this isn’t enough. She dreams of having more. Her food is not enough for her and she wants to dine on finer dishes. One would think she was living a life of poverty from how dissatisfied she is.

This constant desire for more is her undoing, of course – and her husband’s. Her insistence that she have some jewels to wear to the ball is what leads her to find out what real poverty is like, when she and her husband have to downsize from a modest flat to a small garret, and Mathilde has to learn how to work as a servant in her own house. She also loses the natural beauty she had as she has to work so hard at scrubbing the floors.

The critic Rachel Mesch, in her book Having It All in the Belle Epoque , has pointed out that ‘The Necklace’, among other stories, is a kind of Cinderella-story gone awry: whereas Cinderella begins by scrubbing floors and ends up going to the ball in all her finery, Mathilde goes to the ball and, as a result of losing her necklace (not her glass slipper), is reduced to a life of scrubbing floors.

Because she longed for more than she had, she ended up with less than she had to begin with. But the delicious ironic twist at the end of the story shows that her reduction to a life of poverty was all for nothing: just like the admiration she was foolishly and vainly chasing, the necklace she was working to replace was, after all, a sham.

Modern consumerism, then, is a con, with anyone able to afford a cheap imitation necklace able to pass themselves off as a member of the upper classes. Maupassant seems to be suggesting that the ‘finer things’ in life which tempt us are often, at their core, hollow and worthless.

At the same time, however, even when she is reduced to a life of grinding poverty, Mathilde still remembers that one night at the ball when she was admired. It is almost as if she thinks it was worth it, despite what happened next. She wonders what would have happened if she’d never lost the necklace.

Of course, at this stage of the narrative she hasn’t learned that the diamonds she was wearing that night were fakes; perhaps that revelation would make her revise her opinion. And yet, knowing they were imitation diamonds raises further ‘what if’ questions.

If they cost five hundred francs at the most, as Madame Forestier reveals at the end, Loisel’s husband could have easily bought her a cheap necklace and nobody – except for the Loisels themselves – would have been any the wiser. After all, Mathilde was admired at the ball even though she was, it turns out, wearing fake diamonds.

‘The Necklace’ is narrated in the third person by an omniscient narrator. The style is broadly realist, with Maupassant’s narrative voice relating the main details of the story in crisp, concise prose. We don’t get – as we would in the work of later modernist writers – detailed insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings, although we are given occasional details about Mathilde’s feelings towards her situation.

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Literary Analysis of The Necklace: Essay Example

The necklace: introduction of the essay, the necklace by guy de maupassant: characterization, the necklace essay: conflict and narration, the necklace by guy de maupassant: setting and atmosphere, the necklace essay: tone, language, and major theme, the necklace essay: critical perspective, the necklace: conclusion of the essay.

The Necklace (La Parure) is one of the most famous short stories by Guy De Maupassant. It tells a story about a middle-class French couple in the 19th century. The wife is longing for a luxurious life, unappreciative of her husband, and a relatively happy life the couple is leading. Madame Loisel spends her time dreaming about all the luxuries they cannot afford to purchase while experiencing a feeling of shame for their actual life. The events described in the story reveal the features of the character of the heroine, which eventually leads her to live a life far poorer than she used to lead. An unexpected and ironic outcome provides a complex moral lesson that the readers are supposed to learn along with Madame Loisel. In the end, she learns that her image of high society was not real; the lack of appreciation for her moderate but sufficient fortune led to a disastrous outcome, and her husband’s efforts to provide for her went undeservingly unnoticed. The deceptiveness of appearances is the major theme of the story.

The main heroine, Madame Loisel, comes from a family of clerks. With no dowry and no hopes of being married to a wealthy man, she becomes the wife of a clerk from the Ministry of Education. Mathilde does not enjoy her life, as it is far too modest. She believes she was born to lead a lavish lifestyle and spends her time imagining the rich and luxurious surroundings she deserves (Maupassant 789). The emotions she experiences because of her poor lifestyle are rather strong, as she regards it as a misfortune and even an insult. Mathilde does not appreciate her husband’s efforts to provide for her at all costs. Upon receiving an invitation to a high society soirée, she is miserable due to the lack of clothing and jewelry worthy of a well-off and distinguished person.

Monsieur Loisel is a generous and loving husband. To please his wife, he denies himself the pleasure of buying a gun, giving up the money for Mathilde’s gown for the ball. Monsieur Loisel is attentive to his wife’s changing moods and gives her valuable advice on how to get the jewelry they cannot afford. During the soirée, he does not attempt to tarnish his wife’s delight at being appreciated and admired and sleeps in a waiting room until four o’clock in the morning, even though he must be at work four hours later. Monsieur Loisel displays the qualities of a loving and attentive husband, striving to please his wife. Madame Loisel, however, does not appreciate his attention, as she regards him as an unimportant figure in society, unable to afford to lead a luxurious lifestyle.

There is a third-person narration in the story, with an omniscient point of view, providing us with the innermost thoughts and feelings of the main characters. The conflict described by Maupassant in this short story revolves around Mathilde and the lost necklace. Striving to fit in with the members of high society, Madame Loisel is willing to borrow a diamond necklace from a friend, which she loses after the soirée. Due to her pride, she is unable to tell the truth. She is ashamed that they cannot afford to replace such expensive jewelry. Therefore, the conflict of the story is tied to the lost necklace and the couple’s desperate struggles to repay the debt, which leads them, in the end, to life in poverty, a complete opposite of what Mathilde has always wanted.

The Necklace is set in 19th-century Paris, the Belle Époque. It includes descriptions of middle-class interiors, as well as of high society’s lavish lifestyle. Material things are described through Mathilde’s daydreaming about the luxurious life she was meant to lead. Her actual surroundings are described as ugly and poor, making her suffer greatly. The atmosphere of the story could be seen as dynamic since it changes as the plot evolves. Before losing the necklace, the atmosphere seems rather light and ironic. The reader follows Mathilde’s “sorrows” with a hint of a smile, perceiving her capriciousness and the lack of appreciation for her husband’s affection as typical qualities in a vain young wife. However, after the necklace is lost, there is a substantial shift in the atmosphere. Superficial vanity gives way to the pride that drives the couple to the brink of poverty. The light atmosphere of the first part is followed by the gloomy atmosphere of the last part, with an ironic twist at the end, meant to stress the moral lesson.

The tone is the attitude the author conveys by presenting the events and characters in a certain way. Some aspects of linguistic features indicate the author’s ironic attitude towards the main heroine. For instance, his use of the words “suffer,” “insult,” “torment,” “despair,” and “misery” shows Mathilde’s vainness and her inability to appreciate her life. The husband’s rhetorical question at dinner, “What could be better?” contrasts with her dreams about a luxurious lifestyle. The second part of the story, where the couple is forced to work hard to pay off their debt, indicates the pride of the main heroine: “She played her part heroically” (Maupassant 793).

Aside from irony, Maupassant uses symbolism as a way to convey the central theme of the story. The necklace symbolizes the high society Mathilde is so eager to join. However, as the necklace turns out to be a mere imitation, it symbolizes the superficial nature of the upper class’ appeal. The fake necklace symbolizes the illusion that Madame Loisel is captivated by, eventually leading to a disastrous outcome. Thus, the story’s major theme lies in the idea that notions such as beauty, wealth, poorness, and happiness depend on an individual’s perception. The appearances of upper-class lifestyles were deceptive, just like Mathilde’s appearance at the soirée, where she was such a success. However, neither the necklace nor Mathilde’s seemingly luxurious appearance was genuine. This leads us to believe that Maupassant wanted to stress the importance of the illusory nature of appearances, in which the 19th-century French bourgeoisie was so immersed.

From a sociological/Marxist criticism standpoint, Madame Loisel is a member of the middle class, an aspiring member of the upper class, and, ultimately, a lower-class member. The inability to accept her position in society and a constant yearning for a wealthier life lead the couple to find themselves at the bottom of the social structure. The amount of expensive material possessions indicates the class the people belong to, as well as their social status. Mathilde is deceived by the superficial signs of wealth, leading to her becoming a servant class member.

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant tells the story of a woman preoccupied with her desire to be wealthy and to belong to the upper class. The ironic twist at the end of the story renders her perception inconsistent with reality. As the plot unravels, the deceptiveness of appearances turns out to be the main reason for the disastrous outcome. 

Maupassant, Guy De. “The Necklace.” Short Fiction. Classic and Contemporary. Ed. Charles Bohner and Lyman Grant. Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006. 789-795. Print.

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The Necklace

By guy de maupassant, the necklace summary and analysis of the necklace.

A young woman, Mathilde, is born to a low class family. With no money for a dowry, she is married to Monsieur Loisel , a clerk from the Board of Education. Mathilde always felt like she should have been born to the upper class and is unhappy in her married life, hating their home, their food, and her lack of fine clothing and jewelry. One evening, her husband presents her excitedly with an invitation to attend an event at the Minister of Public Instruction’s home. To the surprise of M. Loisel, Mathilde–now Mme. Loisel–throws the invitation down in dismay, weeping and complaining that she has nothing to wear to such an event. Her husband offers to give her the money for something suitable, and she calculates the maximum amount she could request without him refusing her immediately. When she requests this amount, her husband pales, thinking of the hunting gun for which he has been saving that exact amount; nonetheless, he agrees.

The day of the ball approaches and Mme. Loisel’s dress is made ready, but she is still dismayed. When asked why, she replies that she is embarrassed to attend the ball without any jewels. Her husband, after being chastised for suggesting she wear flowers in her hair instead, suggests that she ask to borrow some jewels from her rich friend, Mme. Forestier. Mme Loisel agrees and goes to see her friend the next day, greedily choosing one of Mme. Forestier’s finest necklaces.

At the ball, Madame Loisel is a hit - elegant, joyful, and desired for waltzes. She and M. Loisel return home at nearly 4 o’clock in the morning. Once they are home, Mme. Loisel realizes that she lost the necklace. She and her husband discuss the situation frantically; Mme. Loisel that she felt it on her after leaving the ball, so it must be in the road somewhere. Her husband goes back out to look on the ground the entire way they just walked, though he must be at work in only a few hours. He returns empty-handed hours later.

The couple places a notice with the police department and, at the suggestion of her husband, Madame Loisel writes a note to her friend saying the clasp of the necklace has broken and they are having it repaired. After a week with no news, M. Loisel proclaims that they must replace it, and the couple finds a replacement for 36,000 francs. M. Loisel had 18,000 francs from his father’s will and borrows the remaining sum, making “ruinous promises”(p.36) in the process. After all this, Madame Loisel puts the new necklace in the case belonging to the original necklace; she returns it without arousing suspicion.

To pay off the debt, both Monsieur and Madame Loisel must work tirelessly. They rent rooms and Madame Loisel learns to cook, clean for many, be “clothed like a woman of the people”(p.36) and haggle at the market. Her husband works evenings and takes on side jobs bookkeeping and copying. After ten years, they are finally able to pay off all of their debts. Sitting at home, a hardened, old woman, Madame Loisel thinks back on how her life might have been, had she not lost the necklace.

One day, while taking a walk, Mme. Loisel runs into Mme. Forestier. She approaches her old friend, and Mme. Forestier almost doesn’t recognize her. In a sudden burst of emotion, Madame Loisel reveals her entire story of losing the necklace, replacing it, and working off the cost of the replacement ever since. In response, Madame Forestier replies that the original necklace did not contain actual diamonds but rather fake diamonds, meaning the original necklace cost no more than 500 francs.

As writer in 19th-century France, Maupassant writes in a style called Literary Realism. The clearest example of this style comes in the final third of the story, when he describes the poor, working lives of the Loisels. Maupassant contrasts this with the almost romantic description of the party that the Loisels attend, at which Mathilde wore the titular necklace.

As gender played an important role in 19th-century French society, so too does it in " The Necklace ." Women of the middle and upper classes did not work, instead being taken care of by their husbands. Thus, many of the Loisels’ problems involve money. Not only is Mme. Loisel bitter about her inability to improve her social class, but the Loisels also value different things, with those values mapping along gender lines. When invited to the party, Mme. Loisel begins to weep, asking her husband to lend her the money for a new dress, as clothing and jewelry were especially important indicators of status for women. In contrast, M. Loisel thinks to himself that he had wanted to save that money to buy a new gun, a manly pursuit that he could have used to bond with male friends and relax from his busy work schedule.

Beauty is treated in "The Necklace" at times as objective and at times as quite subjective, dependent on social class. On one hand, Maupassant writes that beauty was the way women could advance their place in society. On the other hand, Mme. Loisel sees Mme. Forestier's necklace as beautiful largely because of its supposed worth and the social capital it provides. At the party, it is said that Mme. Loisel felt and looked quite beautiful, and that many men desired to dance with her. In this case, the reader must ask whether this is because of her natural beauty, the upper-class attire she was able to acquire for the event, or perhaps simply her confidence from her clothing.

Until the end of the story, Mme. Loisel is not presented as a particularly likeable or sympathetic character. One example of Mme. Loisel's flaws comes when the couple has just gotten home from the party: Mme. Loisel says, "I have--I have--I no longer have Mrs. Forestier's necklace."(p.35) In this moment, it seems that she is trying, even in her panicked state, not to take the blame of what has happened, refusing to admit that she lost the necklace.

In setting up the eventual irony in one of his classic twist endings, Maupassant is careful to write that the necklace "seemed to them exactly like the one they had lost"(p.36). This is not enough to alert the reader to the eventual irony, but it points to the couple's inability to tell the two necklaces apart precisely because they were not accustomed to lavish jewelry. This in turn raises the question of whether Mme. Forestier would have recognized the substitution; though she does not let on that she recognizes any difference upon seeing the replacement for the first time and seems genuinely surprised when she hears Mme. Loisel's tale after ten years, it is suspicious that a woman of a higher class would not be able to tell the difference.

Finally, the fact that the characters never find out what happened to the necklace points toward the randomness of life and importance of circumstance. As Maupassant writes, "How would it have been if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows? How singular is life, and how full of changes! How small a thing will ruin or save one!"(p.37) This moral of the story may be seen as a critique of the importance of social class, since the story demonstrates that a simple accident or circumstance forced upon a person (since the necklace could have been stolen purposefully) can doom a person to a completely different way of life. At the same time, Maupassant demonstrates that social class does not correlate to happiness, as Mme. Loisel seems more content in her life and her marriage when in the poor class than when behaving either as a middle- or upper-class woman.

The Necklace Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Necklace is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What does Mathilde spend much of her time fantasizing about in the beginning of the story? Why do you think de Maupassant describes these thoughts so thoroughly, as part of introducing Mathilde’s character

Mathilde fantacizes about all of the things she does not have and feels herself entitled to.... wealth, a large home, delicious foods, beautiful clothing, and exquisite jewelry. Though, I cannot speak for the author, I believe he wants his...

The necklace by Guy de Maupassant

In 'The Necklace', the author initiially uses slow pacing to amplify the tension. When Mathilde loses the necklace, the pace quickens as she hurriedly tries to repay her debt.

What does the word petulantly mean as it is used in paragraph 10?

The modern use of petulantly generally means moody or childish or overly stubborn.

Study Guide for The Necklace

The Necklace study guide contains a biography of Guy de Maupassant, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Necklace
• The Necklace Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Necklace

The Necklace literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.

• Irony and Deception in “The Diamond Necklace”
• A Comparison of Dee and Mathilde
• Symbolic structures of the fairy tale: A Comparison of 'The Necklace' and 'The Son's Veto'
• A Necklace as a Symbol: An Intersection between Marxist, Feminist, Psychological, and Formalist Readings of Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace”
• Dynamic Characteristics of Madame Loisel

Lesson Plan for The Necklace

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Necklace
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Necklace Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Necklace

• Introduction
• Significance
• Bibliography

The Necklace

Guy de maupassant, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Reality and Illusion

In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant demonstrates that appearances—especially the appearance of wealth—are often at odds with reality. Attempting to appear richer than she truly is, Mathilde Loisel borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Jeanne Forestier and then loses it at a ball. She and her husband buy an expensive replacement on credit, return the replacement to the friend as though it’s the original, and then live ten years in poverty to repay their…

Women and Beauty

At the beginning of “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant writes that for women, “their beauty, their grace, and their charm serve them in lieu of birth and family background” and that “Their native finesse, their instinct for elegance, their versatile minds are their sole hierarchy, making shopgirls the equals of the grandest ladies.” His implication is that a woman’s beauty and poise can offer her upward social mobility. While Maupassant presents this as being the…

Ambition, Greed, and Material Possessions

“The Necklace” is, at its heart, a story about Mathilde ’s social ambition, which takes the form of a desire to acquire luxurious objects that she cannot afford. Through her ruin, Maupassant warns against the dangers of greed and criticizes those who ascribe too much value to wealth and material possessions.

Mathilde invests objects like the diamond necklace she borrows from Mme. Forestier with enormous significance, and her happiness is heavily dependent on her possession…

Sacrifice, Suffering, and Martyrdom

In the final section of “The Necklace,” Mathilde and her husband suffer for a decade as they struggle to pay back their enormous debt from the loss of the necklace . This suffering, combined with the fact that the Loisels live on “rue des Martyrs,” suggests that Maupassant wants readers to see Mathilde and her husband both as martyrs, albeit martyrs of different sorts.

Mathilde is a martyr for a cause: her desire for symbols…

In “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant demonstrates the importance of knowing how to achieve happiness in a meaningful and lasting way. At the beginning of the story, Mathilde and her husband live a modest life, but with enough money to live comfortably. However, Mathilde is perpetually discontented, unable to be happy without the clothes and jewels of a wealthy woman. Although Mathilde achieves a fleeting moment of happiness during the party, the next ten years…

“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant: Analyzing a Theme of the Insecurity Essay (Critical Writing)

The focal point of the paper is to analyze the theme of insecurity in the short story ‘The Necklace’ by Guy De Maupassant and translated by Marjorie Laurie. It is true that economic inequalities in society are a curse and is reminiscent of the imbalance of the society and has given rise to a sense of insecurity on the individual level. The possible argument presented in this context would be that of Maupassant because he indicated the faults of the society with hard proof whereas the others simply approached the issue in a philosophic manner. However, it should also be stated that the economic inequalities of society, and the cause of the insecurity, are basically a need in a way. This is because the nature of wealth is to constantly accumulate. The moment there is forceful equality of economic wealth would start to accumulate in one way or the other resulting in minute economic inequalities in the initial stages and distinctive and gigantic economic inequalities in the end. Thus, it could be stated that economic inequality is inevitable, if not essential, for any society as long as it is within the boundaries and parameters that society is able to sustain but simultaneously it gives rise to social and personal insecurity that is evident in the short story ‘The Necklace’ (Kar, pp. 177-9).

Insecurity, or social insecurity, plays a fundamental part in the story. It is the social norms of wealth that the protagonists are trying to protect and sustain their position in late nineteenth-century Paris. The protagonists are lacking in economic equality with their acquaintances. However, they are always afraid of losing their faces due to it. They are insecure and they are opting for any and every method of saving their social face. The husband, M. Loisel, is trying to buy a gun for 400 francs in order to “ treat himself to a little shooting next summer ” so that he can accompany “ with several friends, who went to shoot larks ” (Maupassant, p. 60). That 400 franc is worth a lot to him but he is willing to part with it as he would be socially insecure if he fails to be at par with his friends.

The same insecurity becomes evident when we find that he is willing to give away the amount kept for the gun so that she can buy a necklace for the invitation because “ there is nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich ”(Maupassant, 60). This is the same insecurity feeling of being left alone in the social norms. However, the most debatable issue of this story among literary scholars and enthusiasts remains until date about the conclusion or end part of the story. Here it is seen that the Loisels are found to be wanting in the context of social norms of riches. The focal point of this debate remains in the possibility of the purpose of the redemption of the necklace. There are various interpretations related to the basic existence of the necklace altogether. In other words, the basic reason for the writer to bring in the necklace is very interesting indeed. The disappearance of the necklace in the middle phase is also very interesting reading in the sense that it is not very common for a story of the author’s era in Paris to complete as a story almost with unfinished settlements but mostly with awe. This is the reason literature critics feel or believe that in the story the necklace of Loisel hardly exists. According to them, the ornament is just another stroke of genius by the author when he presented the necklace not so much as a social or an intellectual metaphor but simply as a parody to mock the existing social convention that creates more insecurity among individuals than stability (Kar, p.181).

However, a regret of the loss of the necklace and the redemption of it through extreme hardships can well be seen as an act of revenge against social oppression by the upper class towards the unprivileged. Here the Loisels climbed down the economic ladder in order to save their faces in front of their known economic levels of social mode. It was their insecurity of being outclassed by their friends and acquaintances that made them work hard to recover the money lost. This oppression of social-economic class could well be enumerated as a reversal of power within France in days to come. But then again, a different interpretation can be presented with the return of the necklace the Loisel’s remained to the society and it can well be a symbolic gesture by which the author shows the remorse of the prevailing society in the most collective sense. This remorse may well be a suggestive measure by the society that failed to accept and treat Loisels with more compassion and well-being-without making them insecure. This insecurity had taken a huge toll on the couple and at the end of the story; we find the woman was the most suffered character. Mme. Loisel “ looked old now. She had become the woman of impoverished households- strong and hard and rough .” (Maupassant, p. 65). In simple terms, the social insecurity brought to the Loisels what they tried hard to avoid and were positively afraid of- poverty and social degradation.

The basic theme of the story presents a profound essence of humane values or better to say the writer indicates towards a civilization that is developed in all sense but in human values that deals in the social norms of economic inequalities and its members to suffer in the feeling of insecurity. The result was pitiful, they worked and worked, and “ this life lasted for ten years ” (Maupassant, p.65). This concept could have been regarded as an act of initial socialism but with Maupassant, the approach does not merely is confined within the framework of social justice but evokes a sense of love and compassion whereby it makes the reader possible to love this characters of a couple to its interiority. They are common to the core and they know it very well in their hearts. The sense of consumerism is virtually overwhelming in them but it is the maintaining status and insecurity of losing it that comes out as the most instrumental determinant (Lamb, p. 227).

Works Cited

• Maupassant, Guy De; The Necklace; trans. Marjorie Laurie; pp. 59-65; 1934
• Kar, P; Consumer Market in Literature ( Kolkata: Dasgupta & Chatterjee 2005) p. 145
• Lamb, Davis; Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization; ( Wellington: National Book Trust . 2004)
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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The Necklace

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Compare and contrast the characters of Loisel and Mathilde. How can such different personalities form a seemingly successful marriage?

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“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant: A Critical Review

Imagine a simple twist of fate that forever alters your life – this is the captivating premise of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant.

Introduction: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Table of Contents

Imagine a simple twist of fate that forever alters your life – this is the captivating premise of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. First published in 1884 within the French newspaper Le Gaulois, this short story later found a home in Maupassant’s broader collection, Boule de Suif . With its focus on the deceptive nature of appearances, the relentless pursuit of social status, and the crushing weight of debt, “The Necklace” continues to enthrall readers. Its themes remain timeless, made even more poignant by Maupassant’s skill as a storyteller: his prose is crisp, his irony sharp, and his iconic twist ending will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve reached the final line

Main Events in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Unhappiness and Longing:

• Mathilde’s discontent is clear: “She suffered constantly, feeling herself born for all the delicacies and all the luxuries.” (Maupassant, Paragraph 1)
• Her dreams of wealth are detailed: “… dainty dinners, with gleaming silverware … tapestries peopling the walls with ancient figures and with strange birds flying in fairy forests …” (Maupassant, Paragraph 1)

The Invitation:

• The invitation arrives and throws Mathilde into despair. She has nothing suitable to wear for an event of such high society.
• Her husband, Monsieur Loisel, sacrifices his savings for a new dress: …”and he gave her four hundred francs.” (Maupassant, Paragraph 9)

The Dress and the Necklace:

• Mathilde, still dissatisfied, borrows a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier: “She was overcome with emotion when she saw her own reflection.” (Maupassant, Paragraph 14)
• Mathilde’s transformation is complete: “She was prettier than any of them, elegant, gracious, smiling and wild with joy” (Maupassant, Paragraph 18)
• She is the envy of the party, reveling in the attention of high-ranking men.
• The party ends, and the luxurious facade crumbles: “…and in the street they found one of those ancient night cabs that crawl, only at night…” (Maupassant, Paragraph 22)
• Panic sets in as Mathilde discovers the loss of the necklace.

Desperation and Debt:

• The Loisels exhaust every possibility of finding the necklace: “…he retraced his steps… they went to the police headquarters, to the newspaper offices… to the cab companies…” (Maupassant, Paragraph 25)
• In a desperate act, they purchase an identical necklace with an enormous price tag, plunging them into debt.

A Decade of Hardship:

• The years become a blur of hard labor and sacrifice: “…she came to know the hateful work of the kitchen… all the loathsome tasks of a household.” (Maupassant, Paragraph 30)
• Mathilde’s youthful charm fades with the burdens: “She became… strong, hard and coarse woman…” (Maupassant, Paragraph 30)

The Shocking Truth:

• Ten years later, by chance, Mathilde encounters Madame Forestier, who doesn’t recognize her.
• In a heartbreaking twist, Madame Forestier reveals: “Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs!” (Maupassant, Last Paragraph)

Literary Devices in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Charact erization in “the necklace” by guy de maupassant, mathilde loisel.

• Obsessed with wealth and luxury: “She suffered constantly, feeling herself born for all the delicacies and all the luxuries.” (Opening paragraph)
• Dreams of fancy dinners, expensive furnishings, and servants.
• Values appearances above all else.
• Her greatest joy at the party is derived from the attention and envy of others.
• Willing to sacrifice everything and endure years of hardship for the facade of wealth.
• Doesn’t consider the consequences of borrowing the necklace.
• Underestimates the effort required to replace the necklace, assuming they could easily purchase another.
• Ten years of labor change her physically: “She had become the strong, hard, and coarse woman…”
• May have gained some wisdom and understanding of true value through her suffering.

Monsieur Loisel

• Seems satisfied with their modest life.
• Sacrifices his own savings for Mathilde’s dress: “…and he gave her four hundred francs.”
• Works tirelessly to repay the debt, demonstrating loyalty and love.
• Yields to Mathilde’s demands and goes along with her plans, even when he likely sees the potential for trouble.
• Less dynamic character than Mathilde, primarily serving to highlight her flaws.

Additional Notes on Characterization:

• Maupassant uses indirect characterization: We understand the characters primarily through their actions, dialogue, and thoughts, rather than explicit descriptions.
• Madame Forestier remains somewhat enigmatic. This hints at the theme of the deceptiveness of appearances since, even through her kindness, she unwittingly causes Mathilde’s downfall.

Major Themes in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Writing style in “the necklace” by guy de maupassant.

• Realism and Simplicity:
• Straightforward language: The story progresses without complicated sentence structures or excess verbosity.
• Example: “She suffered constantly, feeling herself born for all the delicacies and all the luxuries.” (Opening paragraph)
• Vivid Descriptions:
• Details paint a picture: Descriptions focus on characters, settings, and actions, allowing the reader to visualize the story.
• Example: “…the silk-lined walls, with alternating stripes of light and dark velvet… enormous chandeliers blazing…” (Description of the party)
• Irony and Social Commentary:
• Situational irony drives the plot: The borrowed necklace, a symbol of wealth, turns out to be worthless, highlighting the emptiness of materialism.
• Example: “Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs!” (Madame Forestier’s revelation)

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• Marxist Theory : The story reflects the social and economic inequalities prevalent in the 19th century French society, where the bourgeoisie lived lavish lifestyles while the lower class struggled to make ends meet. Mathilde’s obsession with material possessions and desire to fit in with the upper class can be seen as a criticism of capitalism and its emphasis on material wealth.
• Feminist Theory : Mathilde’s character can be viewed through a feminist lens, as she is a victim of gender inequality and the limited opportunities available to women in her time. Her dissatisfaction with her life is a result of the limitations imposed on her as a woman, and the societal pressure for women to conform to a certain standard of beauty and class.
• Psychoanalytic Theory : The story can be interpreted through a psychoanalytic lens, where Mathilde’s desire for material possessions can be seen as a manifestation of her unconscious desires and repressed emotions. Her obsession with the necklace and desire to fit in with the upper class can be seen as a reflection of her own insecurities and dissatisfaction with her life.
• Reader-Response Theory : The reader’s interpretation of the story is influenced by their own experiences, beliefs, and cultural background. The story can be read in different ways depending on the reader’s own perspective, and the meaning of the story is not fixed but can change depending on the reader’s interpretation.
• Formalist Theory : The story can be analyzed in terms of its literary techniques and devices, such as the use of imagery, symbolism, and irony. The author’s use of irony in the ending, where it is revealed that the necklace was a fake, can be seen as a commentary on the superficiality and materialism of society.
• Structuralist Theory : The story can be analyzed through a structuralist lens, where it is viewed as a system of signs and symbols that convey meaning. The necklace can be seen as a symbol of material wealth and the social status it represents, while Mathilde’s desire for the necklace can be seen as a reflection of her desire for social status and acceptance.

Questions about “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• How does Guy de Maupassant use irony in “The Necklace” to convey his message?
• What role does appearance and social status play in “The Necklace”?
• How does the theme of pride affect the main character’s actions in “The Necklace”?
• In “The Necklace,” how does the author use symbolism to enhance the story’s themes?
• How does “The Necklace” reflect the societal norms and values of the time it was written?
• What is the significance of the ending of “The Necklace”?

Thesis Statements of these Questions About “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• The story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant explores the theme of the dangers of vanity and the illusion of social status through the character of Mathilde Loisel, who becomes obsessed with material possessions and her desire for social acceptance.
• In “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, the theme of appearance versus reality is portrayed through the necklace that Mathilde borrows, thinking it is a valuable piece of jewelry, only to find out it is a fake.
• Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” is a story about the power of perception and the consequences of deceit. The theme of appearance versus reality is explored through the character of Mathilde, who tries to present herself as someone she is not.
• The short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant examines the consequences of greed and the importance of honesty. Through the character of Mathilde Loisel, the story illustrates that material possessions are not the key to happiness and that honesty is always the best policy.
• “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant explores the theme of irony and the unexpected twists of fate that can occur in life. The story teaches us that even the smallest lies and deceptions can have long-lasting and devastating consequences.
• The story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant is a commentary on the social expectations placed upon women in the late 19th century. Through the character of Mathilde, the story highlights the limitations and constraints imposed on women in terms of their education, opportunities, and social mobility.

Short Questions andAnswers about “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• What is the irony in “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant?
• The irony in “The Necklace” is that Mathilde Loisel spends her life trying to appear wealthy and high-class, but her desire for material possessions leads to her downfall. She borrows a diamond necklace from a friend to wear to a party and loses it. Instead of telling her friend, she and her husband go into debt to replace it. After ten years of hard work to pay off the debt, Mathilde finds out the necklace was a fake, which renders all of her struggles meaningless.
• What is the significance of the title “The Necklace”?
• The title “The Necklace” refers to the diamond necklace that Mathilde Loisel borrows from her friend Madame Forestier to wear to the party. The necklace represents the allure of material possessions and the desire for social status. It is the catalyst for Mathilde’s downward spiral, as it leads to her and her husband’s financial ruin.
• What is the moral of “The Necklace”?
• The moral of “The Necklace” is that being obsessed with material possessions and social status can lead to misery and despair. Mathilde Loisel spends her life trying to appear wealthy and high-class, but her desire for material possessions ultimately leads to her downfall. The story warns against the dangers of coveting what one cannot afford, and the importance of being content with one’s own circumstances.
• What is the conflict in “The Necklace”?
• The main conflict in “The Necklace” is between Mathilde Loisel and her own desires. Mathilde is unhappy with her simple life and longs to be wealthy and high-class. When she gets the opportunity to attend a fancy party, she borrows a diamond necklace to fit in, but loses it. The conflict comes when she and her husband go into debt to replace the necklace, leading to years of hardship and misery. The conflict is ultimately resolved when Mathilde finds out the necklace was a fake, realizing that all of her struggles were for nothing.

Literary Works Similar to “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• “ The Gift of the Magi ” by O. Henry: This beloved short story revolves around a young couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other on Christmas Eve, highlighting themes of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of wealth.
• “ The Lady, or the Tiger ?” by Frank R. Stockton: In this short story, a princess must decide the fate of her lover who is put on trial in an arena, raising questions about choice, consequence, and the nature of justice.
• “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst: This poignant short story tells the tale of a young boy with physical disabilities and his brother’s efforts to help him, exploring themes of love, pride, and the consequences of pushing someone beyond their limits.
• “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov: In this short story, a banker and a young lawyer make a bet regarding the value of life imprisonment versus capital punishment, delving into themes of human nature, morality, and the pursuit of wealth and power.
• “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs: This classic horror short story revolves around a magical monkey’s paw that grants its owner three wishes, but with unforeseen and tragic consequences, exploring themes of greed, fate, and the dangers of tampering with destiny.
• “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe: In this chilling tale, an unnamed narrator becomes increasingly disturbed by the eye of an old man and resolves to murder him, only to be haunted by guilt and paranoia, delving into themes of guilt, madness, and the human psyche.
• “Rappaccini’s Daughter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne: This Gothic short story explores themes of obsession, pride, and the consequences of meddling with nature through the tragic tale of a young woman who becomes poisonous to the touch due to her father’s experiments.
• “The Lottery Ticket” by Anton Chekhov: This short story follows a couple who experience a surge of excitement after winning a small lottery prize, leading them to imagine the possibilities of wealth and the changes it could bring to their lives, touching on themes of greed, desire, and the illusion of happiness.

Suggested Readings: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

• Bloom, Harold. “Themes and Meanings in ‘The Necklace’.” Short Story Criticism 33 (1999): 30-32. Gale Literature Resource Center . Web. 22 March 2024.
• Knapp, Bettina L. “Maupassant’s ‘The Necklace’: Object of Desire, Symbol of Defeat.” The French Review 56.5 (1983): 661-668. JSTOR . Web. 22 March 2024.
• Cogny, Pierre. Guy de Maupassant: The Short Stories . Paris: Hatier, 1987. (Note: If resources in French are relevant to your research)
• Steegmuller, Francis. Maupassant: A Lion in the Path . New York: Random House, 1949. (Consider including this for a broader biographical approach)
• SparkNotes. “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. [ SparkNotes website ], n.d. Web. 22 March 2024.
• Short Stories and Classic Literature. “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. [Website Name], n.d. Web. 22 March 2024.

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The Necklace

By guy de maupassant.

The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no expectations, no way of being known, understood, loved, married by any rich and distinguished man; so she let herself be married to a little clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction.

She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was unhappy as if she had really fallen from a higher station; since with women there is neither caste nor rank, for beauty, grace and charm take the place of family and birth. Natural ingenuity, instinct for what is elegant, a supple mind are their sole hierarchy, and often make of women of the people the equals of the very greatest ladies.

Mathilde suffered ceaselessly, feeling herself born to enjoy all delicacies and all luxuries. She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of the curtains. All those things, of which another woman of her rank would never even have been conscious, tortured her and made her angry. The sight of the little Breton peasant who did her humble housework aroused in her despairing regrets and bewildering dreams. She thought of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestry, illumined by tall bronze candelabra, and of two great footmen in knee breeches who sleep in the big armchairs, made drowsy by the oppressive heat of the stove. She thought of long reception halls hung with ancient silk, of the dainty cabinets containing priceless curiosities and of the little coquettish perfumed reception rooms made for chatting at five o'clock with intimate friends, with men famous and sought after, whom all women envy and whose attention they all desire.

When she sat down to dinner, before the round table covered with a tablecloth in use three days, opposite her husband, who uncovered the soup tureen and declared with a delighted air, "Ah, the good soup! I don't know anything better than that," she thought of dainty dinners, of shining silverware, of tapestry that peopled the walls with ancient personages and with strange birds flying in the midst of a fairy forest; and she thought of delicious dishes served on marvellous plates and of the whispered gallantries to which you listen with a sphinxlike smile while you are eating the pink meat of a trout or the wings of a quail.

She had no gowns, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that. She felt made for that. She would have liked so much to please, to be envied, to be charming, to be sought after.

She had a friend, a former schoolmate at the convent, who was rich, and whom she did not like to go to see any more because she felt so sad when she came home.

But one evening her husband reached home with a triumphant air and holding a large envelope in his hand.

"There," said he, "there is something for you."

She tore the paper quickly and drew out a printed card which bore these words:

The Minister of Public Instruction and Madame Georges Ramponneau request the honor of M. and Madame Loisel's company at the palace of the Ministry on Monday evening, January 18th.

Instead of being delighted, as her husband had hoped, she threw the invitation on the table crossly, muttering:

"What do you wish me to do with that?"

"Why, my dear, I thought you would be glad. You never go out, and this is such a fine opportunity. I had great trouble to get it. Every one wants to go; it is very select, and they are not giving many invitations to clerks. The whole official world will be there."

She looked at him with an irritated glance and said impatiently:

"And what do you wish me to put on my back?"

He had not thought of that. He stammered:

"Why, the gown you go to the theatre in. It looks very well to me."

He stopped, distracted, seeing that his wife was weeping. Two great tears ran slowly from the corners of her eyes toward the corners of her mouth.

"What's the matter? What's the matter?" he answered.

By a violent effort she conquered her grief and replied in a calm voice, while she wiped her wet cheeks:

"Nothing. Only I have no gown, and, therefore, I can't go to this ball. Give your card to some colleague whose wife is better equipped than I am."

He was in despair. He resumed:

"Come, let us see, Mathilde. How much would it cost, a suitable gown, which you could use on other occasions--something very simple?"

She reflected several seconds, making her calculations and wondering also what sum she could ask without drawing on herself an immediate refusal and a frightened exclamation from the economical clerk.

Finally she replied hesitating:

"I don't know exactly, but I think I could manage it with four hundred francs."

He grew a little pale, because he was laying aside just that amount to buy a gun and treat himself to a little shooting next summer on the plain of Nanterre, with several friends who went to shoot larks there of a Sunday.

But he said:

"Very well. I will give you four hundred francs. And try to have a pretty gown."

The day of the ball drew near and Madame Loisel seemed sad, uneasy, anxious. Her frock was ready, however. Her husband said to her one evening:

And she answered:

"It annoys me not to have a single piece of jewelry, not a single ornament, nothing to put on. I shall look poverty-stricken. I would almost rather not go at all."

"You might wear natural flowers," said her husband. "They're very stylish at this time of year. For ten francs you can get two or three magnificent roses."

She was not convinced.

"No; there's nothing more humiliating than to look poor among other women who are rich."

"How stupid you are!" her husband cried. "Go look up your friend, Madame Forestier, and ask her to lend you some jewels. You're intimate enough with her to do that."

She uttered a cry of joy:

"True! I never thought of it."

The next day she went to her friend and told her of her distress.

Madame Forestier went to a wardrobe with a mirror, took out a large jewel box, brought it back, opened it and said to Madame Loisel:

"Choose, my dear."

She saw first some bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a Venetian gold cross set with precious stones, of admirable workmanship. She tried on the ornaments before the mirror, hesitated and could not make up her mind to part with them, to give them back. She kept asking:

"Haven't you any more?"

"Why, yes. Look further; I don't know what you like."

Suddenly she discovered, in a black satin box, a superb diamond necklace, and her heart throbbed with an immoderate desire. Her hands trembled as she took it. She fastened it round her throat, outside her high-necked waist, and was lost in ecstasy at her reflection in the mirror.

Then she asked, hesitating, filled with anxious doubt:

"Will you lend me this, only this?"

"Why, yes, certainly."

She threw her arms round her friend's neck, kissed her passionately, then fled with her treasure.

The night of the ball arrived. Madame Loisel was a great success. She was prettier than any other woman present, elegant, graceful, smiling and wild with joy. All the men looked at her, asked her name, sought to be introduced. All the attaches of the Cabinet wished to waltz with her. She was remarked by the minister himself.

She danced with rapture, with passion, intoxicated by pleasure, forgetting all in the triumph of her beauty, in the glory of her success, in a sort of cloud of happiness comprised of all this homage, admiration, these awakened desires and of that sense of triumph which is so sweet to woman's heart.

She left the ball about four o'clock in the morning. Her husband had been sleeping since midnight in a little deserted anteroom with three other gentlemen whose wives were enjoying the ball.

He threw over her shoulders the wraps he had brought, the modest wraps of common life, the poverty of which contrasted with the elegance of the ball dress. She felt this and wished to escape so as not to be remarked by the other women, who were enveloping themselves in costly furs.

Loisel held her back, saying: "Wait a bit. You will catch cold outside. I will call a cab."

But she did not listen to him and rapidly descended the stairs. When they reached the street they could not find a carriage and began to look for one, shouting after the cabmen passing at a distance.

They went toward the Seine in despair, shivering with cold. At last they found on the quay one of those ancient night cabs which, as though they were ashamed to show their shabbiness during the day, are never seen round Paris until after dark.

It took them to their dwelling in the Rue des Martyrs, and sadly they mounted the stairs to their flat. All was ended for her. As to him, he reflected that he must be at the ministry at ten o'clock that morning.

She removed her wraps before the glass so as to see herself once more in all her glory. But suddenly she uttered a cry. She no longer had the necklace around her neck!

"What is the matter with you?" demanded her husband, already half undressed.

She turned distractedly toward him.

"I have--I have--I've lost Madame Forestier's necklace," she cried.

He stood up, bewildered.

"What!--how? Impossible!"

They looked among the folds of her skirt, of her cloak, in her pockets, everywhere, but did not find it.

"You're sure you had it on when you left the ball?" he asked.

"Yes, I felt it in the vestibule of the minister's house."

"But if you had lost it in the street we should have heard it fall. It must be in the cab."

"Yes, probably. Did you take his number?"

"No. And you--didn't you notice it?"

They looked, thunderstruck, at each other. At last Loisel put on his clothes.

"I shall go back on foot," said he, "over the whole route, to see whether I can find it."

He went out. She sat waiting on a chair in her ball dress, without strength to go to bed, overwhelmed, without any fire, without a thought.

Her husband returned about seven o'clock. He had found nothing.

He went to police headquarters, to the newspaper offices to offer a reward; he went to the cab companies--everywhere, in fact, whither he was urged by the least spark of hope.

She waited all day, in the same condition of mad fear before this terrible calamity.

Loisel returned at night with a hollow, pale face. He had discovered nothing.

"You must write to your friend," said he, "that you have broken the clasp of her necklace and that you are having it mended. That will give us time to turn round."

She wrote at his dictation.

At the end of a week they had lost all hope. Loisel, who had aged five years, declared:

"We must consider how to replace that ornament."

The next day they took the box that had contained it and went to the jeweler whose name was found within. He consulted his books.

"It was not I, madame, who sold that necklace; I must simply have furnished the case."

Then they went from jeweler to jeweler, searching for a necklace like the other, trying to recall it, both sick with chagrin and grief.

They found, in a shop at the Palais Royal, a string of diamonds that seemed to them exactly like the one they had lost. It was worth forty thousand francs. They could have it for thirty-six.

So they begged the jeweler not to sell it for three days yet. And they made a bargain that he should buy it back for thirty-four thousand francs, in case they should find the lost necklace before the end of February.

Loisel possessed eighteen thousand francs which his father had left him. He would borrow the rest.

He did borrow, asking a thousand francs of one, five hundred of another, five louis here, three louis there. He gave notes, took up ruinous obligations, dealt with usurers and all the race of lenders. He compromised all the rest of his life, risked signing a note without even knowing whether he could meet it; and, frightened by the trouble yet to come, by the black misery that was about to fall upon him, by the prospect of all the physical privations and moral tortures that he was to suffer, he went to get the new necklace, laying upon the jeweler's counter thirty-six thousand francs.

When Madame Loisel took back the necklace Madame Forestier said to her with a chilly manner:

"You should have returned it sooner; I might have needed it."

She did not open the case, as her friend had so much feared. If she had detected the substitution, what would she have thought, what would she have said? Would she not have taken Madame Loisel for a thief?

Thereafter Madame Loisel knew the horrible existence of the needy. She bore her part, however, with sudden heroism. That dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they changed their lodgings; they rented a garret under the roof.

She came to know what heavy housework meant and the odious cares of the kitchen. She washed the dishes, using her dainty fingers and rosy nails on greasy pots and pans. She washed the soiled linen, the shirts and the dishcloths, which she dried upon a line; she carried the slops down to the street every morning and carried up the water, stopping for breath at every landing. And dressed like a woman of the people, she went to the fruiterer, the grocer, the butcher, a basket on her arm, bargaining, meeting with impertinence, defending her miserable money, sou by sou.

Every month they had to meet some notes, renew others, obtain more time.

Her husband worked evenings, making up a tradesman's accounts, and late at night he often copied manuscript for five sous a page.

This life lasted ten years.

At the end of ten years they had paid everything, everything, with the rates of usury and the accumulations of the compound interest.

Madame Loisel looked old now. She had become the woman of impoverished households--strong and hard and rough. With frowsy hair, skirts askew and red hands, she talked loud while washing the floor with great swishes of water. But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down near the window and she thought of that gay evening of long ago, of that ball where she had been so beautiful and so admired.

What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? who knows? How strange and changeful is life! How small a thing is needed to make or ruin us!

But one Sunday, having gone to take a walk in the Champs Elysees to refresh herself after the labors of the week, she suddenly perceived a woman who was leading a child. It was Madame Forestier, still young, still beautiful, still charming.

Madame Loisel felt moved. Should she speak to her? Yes, certainly. And now that she had paid, she would tell her all about it. Why not?

She went up.

"Good-day, Jeanne."

The other, astonished to be familiarly addressed by this plain good-wife, did not recognize her at all and stammered:

"But--madame!--I do not know---- You must have mistaken."

"No. I am Mathilde Loisel."

Her friend uttered a cry.

"Oh, my poor Mathilde! How you are changed!"

"Yes, I have had a pretty hard life, since I last saw you, and great poverty--and that because of you!"

"Of me! How so?"

"Do you remember that diamond necklace you lent me to wear at the ministerial ball?"

"Yes. Well?"

"Well, I lost it."

"What do you mean? You brought it back."

"I brought you back another exactly like it. And it has taken us ten years to pay for it. You can understand that it was not easy for us, for us who had nothing. At last it is ended, and I am very glad."

Madame Forestier had stopped.

"You say that you bought a necklace of diamonds to replace mine?"

"Yes. You never noticed it, then! They were very similar."

And she smiled with a joy that was at once proud and ingenuous.

Madame Forestier, deeply moved, took her hands.

"Oh, my poor Mathilde! Why, my necklace was paste! It was worth at most only five hundred francs!"

The Necklace is a world famous morality tale. It featured in our collection of Short Stories for Middle School and our collection of Morality Tales . Readers may also enjoy another story with ironic twists, The Gift of the Magi .

In the final sentence, the word "paste" means that the loaned necklace was a fake, an imitation. Alternate translations use the word "imitation" rather than "paste." I chose to use this translation here because it is the version that inspired Henry James' short story Paste

For an alternate translation read this version of the story.

Return to the Guy de Maupassant library , or . . . Read the next short story; Theodule Sabot's Confession

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Short Story — The Moral Lesson of “The Necklace”, a Short Story by Guy Maupassant

The Moral Lesson of "The Necklace", a Short Story by Guy Maupassant

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Published: Dec 5, 2018

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