The Necklace Summary Guy De Maupassant
The Necklace is a short story written by Guy De Maupassant in the late 19th century. The story is set in Paris, France and revolves around the life of a young woman named Mathilde Loisel. Mathilde is unhappy with her life and dreams of a luxurious lifestyle. Despite being married to a clerk, she longs for the riches that she believes would make her happy.
Plot Summary
Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful young woman who is married to a clerk in the Ministry of Education. Despite her husband's love and devotion, Mathilde is unhappy with her life. She longs for a luxurious lifestyle, with fancy dresses and expensive jewelry. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a ball hosted by the Ministry. Mathilde is thrilled at the idea of attending the ball but is dismayed when she realizes that she has nothing to wear. Her husband gives her the money he had saved for a hunting trip, so she can buy a dress. However, Mathilde is still unhappy because she has no jewelry to wear.
Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier, and she is the belle of the ball. She dances with the most important men in the Ministry, and everyone admires her beauty. However, on her way back home, Mathilde realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for the necklace, but it is nowhere to be found. They decide to replace the necklace and go into debt to pay for it. Mathilde works hard to pay off the debt, losing her youth and beauty in the process.
After ten years, Mathilde and her husband finally pay off the debt. One day, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier and tells her the story of the lost necklace. Madame Forestier is surprised to hear about the necklace and tells Mathilde that the necklace she had borrowed was just a fake, worth only a few francs. Mathilde is devastated, realizing that the past ten years of hard work and sacrifice were for nothing.
Themes
The Necklace explores several themes, including the dangers of materialism and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's obsession with material possessions leads to her downfall. She is so consumed with the desire for luxury that she is willing to go into debt to pay for a replacement necklace. In the end, she learns that the necklace she had lost was worth nothing, and her ten years of hard work were for nothing. The story also emphasizes the importance of honesty. If Mathilde had told Madame Forestier the truth about the lost necklace, she could have saved herself and her husband from years of hardship.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a powerful story that explores the dangers of materialism and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's desire for luxury leads to her downfall, and her ten years of hard work are for nothing. The story is a reminder that material possessions are not the key to happiness and that honesty is always the best policy.
