The Necklace
by Guy de Maupassant
Overall Plot Summary
Matilda Loisel is a beautiful but dissatisfied young woman who feels she was born into a family of clerks by a mistake of destiny. She marries M. Loisel, a minor clerk in the Ministry of Public Instruction. Unlike her husband who is content, Matilda dreams of luxury, fine dinners, and elegant dresses. When they receive an invitation to a grand ball, Matilda complains she has nothing to wear. Her husband gives her 400 francs he saved to buy a gun. She buys a dress but still grieves about not having jewelry. On her husband's advice, she borrows a superb diamond necklace from her rich friend, Madame Forestier. Matilda is a huge success at the ball. However, on returning home, she discovers the necklace is lost. To replace it, they borrow 36,000 francs at high interest rates. They spend ten years in extreme poverty and hard labor to pay off the debt, which ages Matilda rapidly. Finally, she meets Madame Forestier and reveals the truth, only to learn the borrowed necklace was actually cheap imitation jewelry worth at most 500 francs.
Chapter-wise Breakdown
Matilda's Discontent and the Invitation
Matilda is unhappy with her modest life. They receive an invitation to a ministerial ball, but she reacts with anger due to lack of elegant clothing.