Summary Of The Diamond Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
Introduction
The Diamond Necklace is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant. It was first published in the French newspaper Le Gaulois in 1884. The story is set in Paris during the 19th century and follows the life of a young woman named Mathilde Loisel, who dreams of living a life of luxury and wealth.
Plot Summary
Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful young woman living in poverty with her husband, a clerk in the Ministry of Education. Mathilde is dissatisfied with her life and dreams of living a life of luxury and wealth. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a ball at the Ministry of Education. Mathilde is thrilled at the prospect of attending the ball and begins to prepare for it.
Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear to the ball. At the ball, Mathilde is the center of attention and is admired by everyone. However, at the end of the evening, Mathilde realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for the necklace, but it is nowhere to be found.
Mathilde and her husband decide to buy a new necklace to replace the lost one. They take out loans and work hard to pay off the debt. After 10 years, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier on the street and tells her the story of the lost necklace. Madame Forestier is shocked and tells Mathilde that the necklace she borrowed was a fake and worth only a fraction of the cost of the replacement necklace.
Themes
The Diamond Necklace explores several themes, including the dangers of pride and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's desire for wealth and status leads her to borrow a necklace that she cannot afford to replace. Her pride prevents her from telling Madame Forestier the truth about what happened to the necklace. Mathilde's dishonesty leads her and her husband into debt and years of hard work.
Analysis
Maupassant's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's desire for wealth and status leads her to make a choice that ultimately destroys her life. The story also explores the theme of class and social status. Mathilde is dissatisfied with her life because she is not wealthy or of high social status. The story suggests that happiness cannot be found in material possessions or social status.
Conclusion
The Diamond Necklace is a classic short story that explores themes of pride, honesty, and social status. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of honesty. Mathilde's desire for wealth and status leads her to make a choice that ultimately destroys her life. The story suggests that happiness cannot be found in material possessions or social status.