The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Plot Summary
Introduction
"The Necklace" is one of the most famous short stories written by Guy De Maupassant. The story was first published in the French newspaper "Le Gaulois" on February 17, 1884. The story has become a classic example of the short story genre and has been translated into many languages. The story is about a young woman named Mathilde Loisel who dreams of a life of luxury and elegance but is trapped in the reality of her lower-class existence.
Mathilde Loisel's Life
Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful and charming young woman who lives with her husband in a small apartment in Paris. Her husband, Monsieur Loisel, is a clerk in the Ministry of Education. Mathilde is unhappy with her life and longs for a life of luxury and elegance.
One day, Mathilde's husband comes home with an invitation to a ball at the Ministry of Education. Mathilde is overjoyed at the invitation but is dismayed that she has nothing to wear to the ball. Monsieur Loisel suggests that she borrow a necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier. Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from Madame Forestier and is the belle of the ball.
The Loss of the Necklace
After the ball, Mathilde realizes that she has lost the necklace. She and her husband search everywhere for the necklace but are unable to find it. Monsieur Loisel suggests that they replace the necklace by buying a new one. They borrow money from everyone they know and buy a new necklace identical to the one they lost.
Mathilde returns the new necklace to Madame Forestier, who is surprised that Mathilde has replaced the necklace. Madame Forestier tells Mathilde that the original necklace was not made of diamonds, but of imitation diamonds. Mathilde is devastated by the revelation and realizes that all of the sacrifices she and her husband made were for nothing.
The Consequences of Mathilde's Actions
The loss of the necklace has a profound effect on Mathilde's life. She and her husband spend the next ten years of their lives paying off the debt they incurred to buy the replacement necklace. Mathilde's beauty and charm fade, and she becomes a bitter and disillusioned woman. She spends the rest of her life regretting her actions and dreaming of the life she could have had.
Conclusion
"The Necklace" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of envy and the consequences of one's actions. Mathilde's desire for a life of luxury and elegance leads her to make a series of poor decisions that ultimately destroy her life. The story is a reminder that happiness cannot be bought with material possessions and that true happiness comes from within.
