Summary of The Necklace – Guy de Maupassant
Introduction
“The Necklace” is a famous short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant, known for his realistic storytelling and twist endings. The story is a satire on pride, greed, and the desire for social status, showing how false appearances can destroy real happiness.
1️⃣ Mathilde’s Dissatisfaction with Life
Mathilde Loisel was a beautiful young woman born into a poor clerk’s family. She always dreamed of living a luxurious life filled with riches, servants, and admiration. However, she had no dowry or wealth, so she married a simple, honest clerk named Monsieur Loisel, who worked for the Ministry of Public Instruction.
Although her husband loved her deeply and provided a modest but comfortable home, Mathilde was always unhappy and discontented. She felt she was born for luxury and elegance, not for the plain life she had. Her days were filled with jealousy and regret when she compared her life to that of her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier.
2️⃣ The Invitation to the Party
One day, Monsieur Loisel came home with great excitement — he had managed to get an invitation to an exclusive party hosted by the Minister of Public Instruction. He thought this would make Mathilde happy, but instead, she became upset and threw the invitation on the table.
She complained that she had nothing suitable to wear for such a grand occasion. To please her, her kind husband sacrificed his savings of 400 francs (which he had saved to buy a hunting gun) and gave her the money to buy a beautiful dress.
3️⃣ Borrowing the Necklace
After buying the gown, Mathilde was still dissatisfied. She felt she looked poor because she had no jewellery to wear. Her husband suggested wearing natural flowers, but she refused, saying she didn’t want to look poor among rich women.
Finally, he advised her to borrow jewellery from her rich friend Madame Forestier. When Mathilde visited her, she was overwhelmed by the sight of beautiful jewels. She chose a stunning diamond necklace, which made her feel elegant and confident.
4️⃣ The Grand Party
On the night of the ball, Mathilde looked radiant and graceful. Everyone admired her beauty and charm. She danced the whole evening, enjoying the admiration and attention of rich men and even the minister himself.
It was the happiest night of her life — a brief moment where she felt she truly belonged among the wealthy.
5️⃣ The Loss of the Necklace
When the couple returned home at 4 a.m., Mathilde discovered that the diamond necklace was missing. Terrified, she and her husband searched everywhere — her dress, pockets, cloak, and even the streets — but it was nowhere to be found.
Monsieur Loisel went out in the cold to search the entire route, but in vain. They had not even noted the cab number, making it impossible to trace.
6️⃣ The Desperate Replacement
The next day, they wrote to Madame Forestier, saying the necklace’s clasp had broken and they were having it repaired — to buy time. After days of searching, they found an identical necklace in a jewellery shop at the Palais Royal.
The replacement cost 36,000 francs. Monsieur Loisel had 18,000 francs from his inheritance and borrowed the rest from moneylenders at high interest. They bought the necklace and returned it to Madame Forestier, who didn’t even check it carefully.
7️⃣ Ten Years of Hardship
To repay the debt, the Loisels had to sacrifice everything. They sold their house, dismissed their maid, and moved into a small attic room. Mathilde did all the heavy housework — cleaning, washing, and cooking — with her once-delicate hands.
Monsieur Loisel worked late into the night doing extra jobs. Their lives became a long struggle filled with poverty and exhaustion.
After ten years of hardship, they finally repaid every penny, but Mathilde had grown old, rough, and unattractive. The once-beautiful woman was now worn out by suffering.
8️⃣ The Final Twist
One Sunday, Mathilde met Madame Forestier while walking in the Champs-Élysées. Her friend was still beautiful and youthful, while Mathilde looked aged and poor.
Out of pride and honesty, Mathilde confessed everything — how she lost the necklace, replaced it with a real one, and worked ten years to repay the debt.
Shocked, Madame Forestier revealed the truth:
“Oh, my poor Mathilde! My necklace was made of paste — it was only worth five hundred francs!”
This revelation crushed Mathilde. She realized she had suffered ten years of misery for nothing, all because of her pride and desire to appear rich.
9️⃣ Conclusion / Moral
The story ends with a powerful moral lesson:
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False pride and pretence can lead to disaster.
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We must be content and honest in life.
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Appearances can be deceptive — true worth lies in character, not wealth.
Guy de Maupassant beautifully shows how a single moment of vanity can destroy a lifetime of peace.
🪞 In One Line
Mathilde Loisel loses a fake necklace but gains a real lesson — the danger of pride and the value of truth.
