Summary Of The Story The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant
Introduction
The Necklace is a short story written by Guy De Maupassant in 1884. It is a story about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who is not contented with her life and desires more than what she has. The story is set in Paris, France in the late 19th century. It is a story about how greed and pride can lead to destruction and how appearances can be deceiving.
Plot
Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful woman but is unhappy with her life. She is married to a clerk and lives a middle-class life. She longs for a luxurious lifestyle and expensive possessions. One day, her husband comes home with an invitation to a ball. Mathilde is excited but realizes that she does not have anything to wear. Her husband gives her money to buy a dress but Mathilde wants more. She borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
Mathilde attends the ball and is the center of attention. She enjoys the night but realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search for the necklace but cannot find it. They decide to buy a replacement necklace and hide the fact that they lost the original necklace. They live in poverty for ten years to pay off the debt of the replacement necklace.
One day, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier and tells her the truth about the necklace. Madame Forestier tells her that the original necklace was a fake and not worth much. Mathilde is devastated and realizes that her greed and desire for material possessions have led to her downfall.
Characters
Mathilde Loisel: The protagonist of the story. She is unhappy with her life and desires more than what she has. Her greed and pride lead to her downfall.
M. Loisel: The husband of Mathilde Loisel. He is contented with his life and tries to make his wife happy.
Madame Forestier: A wealthy friend of Mathilde. She lends Mathilde the necklace that causes all the trouble.
Themes
Greed: Mathilde Loisel's greed and desire for material possessions lead to her downfall. She is not contented with her life and wants more than what she has.
Pride: Mathilde Loisel's pride prevents her from telling the truth about the lost necklace. She and her husband live in poverty to pay off the debt of the replacement necklace.
Deception: The necklace that causes all the trouble is a fake. Madame Forestier deceives Mathilde by letting her borrow the necklace without telling her that it is not worth much.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and pride. Mathilde Loisel's desire for material possessions leads to her downfall. The story teaches us that appearances can be deceiving and that we should be contented with what we have. It is a timeless story that still resonates with readers today.
