The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Plot Diagram
Introduction
The Necklace is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in the late nineteenth century. The story revolves around a woman named Mathilde Loisel, who is not content with her modest lifestyle and dreams of a life of luxury and riches. The story is a classic example of how greed and envy can lead to disastrous consequences.
Exposition
The story begins with the introduction of Mathilde Loisel, a beautiful young woman who is married to a clerk. Mathilde is unhappy with her simple lifestyle and desires a life of luxury and extravagance. She is envious of her wealthy friends and longs to be like them. However, her husband can only afford a modest lifestyle, which frustrates Mathilde.
Inciting Incident
One day, Mathilde's husband comes home with an invitation to a fancy ball. Mathilde is thrilled at the prospect of attending the ball but realizes that she has nothing to wear. Her husband suggests that she borrow jewelry from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier. Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from Madame Forestier and attends the ball, where she is the center of attention.
Rising Action
Mathilde enjoys the ball, but her happiness is short-lived. On her way home, she realizes that she has lost the diamond necklace. She and her husband search for the necklace but cannot find it. They decide to buy a replacement necklace for Madame Forestier without telling her about the loss. Mathilde and her husband spend all their savings and borrow money to pay for the new necklace.
Climax
Several years later, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier on the street. She tells Madame Forestier about the lost necklace and the sacrifices she and her husband made to replace it. Madame Forestier is shocked and tells Mathilde that the necklace she borrowed was a fake and worth only a few francs.
Falling Action
Mathilde is devastated by the revelation and realizes that her greed and envy have led to her downfall. She and her husband spend the next ten years paying off their debts and living in poverty.
Resolution
At the end of the story, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier again and tells her about the lost necklace and its replacement. Madame Forestier is shocked but forgives Mathilde, realizing that they have both suffered the consequences of their actions.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a classic tale of how greed and envy can lead to disastrous consequences. Mathilde's desire for a life of luxury and extravagance leads to the loss of a valuable necklace and years of poverty. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the importance of being content with what one has.
