The Necklace

Matilda Loisel is a beautiful but unhappy woman who feels she was born by mistake into a family of clerks. She believes she deserves a life of luxury and constantly dreams of fine dinners, elegant dresses, and rich friends. Her husband, a minor clerk in the Ministry of Education, manages to secure an invitation to a formal ball.

Instead of being pleased, Matilda is upset because she has nothing to wear. Her husband gives her four hundred francs to buy a dress, but she remains unhappy because she lacks jewelry. He suggests she borrow something from her wealthy school friend, Madame Forestier. Matilda borrows a beautiful diamond necklace and goes to the party, where she is a massive success.

On returning home, Matilda discovers she has lost the necklace. Unable to find it, the couple decides to replace it. They find an identical diamond necklace priced at thirty-six thousand francs, which they buy using their inheritance and borrowing money at high interest rates. For ten years, they live in extreme poverty, working multiple jobs to pay off the massive debt. When they finally pay it off, Matilda runs into Madame Forestier, who is shocked by Matilda's aged appearance. Matilda explains she lost the necklace and spent ten years replacing it, only to learn that Forestier's original necklace was fake and worth at most five hundred francs.