The Necklace - Summary
The Necklace PDF is a captivating short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant, first published on 17 February 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois. This story, well-known for its twist ending, teaches us an important lesson about self-acceptance. The main message of The Necklace is that we should embrace who we are, as false pride often leads to our own suffering. If Mrs. Loisel had been honest and confessed to Madame Forestier about the lost necklace, the situation could have been resolved without all the trouble.
A Glimpse into the Story
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant tells the tale of a middle-class woman named Matilda. Born into a clerk’s family, she is married to a clerk named M. Loisel. Although she is beautiful, Matilda feels unhappy about her life due to what she perceives as her ‘poverty.’ One day, she borrows a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier, which she eventually loses at a party.
Summary of The Necklace
Matilda, a pretty woman from a poor family, often dreams of a life filled with luxury—big houses, fancy dinners, elegant dresses, and stunning jewelry. One day, her husband brings home an invitation to a grand ball from the Minister of Public Instruction, hoping it will make her happy. Instead, she becomes furious and tosses the card aside because she does not have a nice dress to wear.
In his love for her, M. Loisel gives Matilda all the money he had saved for a gun to buy a dress. However, once the dress is ready, Matilda still feels unhappy because she lacks jewelry. In desperation, her husband suggests she borrow some from her friend, Mrs. Forestier. Matilda borrows a beautiful diamond necklace, and at the ball, she is the center of attention, dancing until 4 a.m. feeling blissful.
However, upon returning home, she is horrified to discover that the necklace is missing. They search everywhere but cannot find it. They report the loss to the police and even place an advertisement in the newspapers. Meanwhile, they write to Madame Forestier, claiming that the clasp is broken and that they will return the necklace after it is repaired.
When the necklace cannot be found, they decide to replace it with a similar one, costings them forty thousand Francs, forcing them to take a hefty loan. To repay this loan, they move to a smaller place, dismiss the maid, and Matilda takes on all the household chores while her husband works overtime to gather money. This difficult life lasts for nearly ten years, after which Matilda appears old and worn out.
One day, she bumps into Mrs. Forestier, who still looks youthful. Matilda shares her whole story, and Mrs. Forestier is taken aback. She reveals the shocking truth: the diamond necklace Matilda borrowed was made of artificial diamonds and was only worth five hundred francs.
You can download the The Necklace PDF using the link given below.
