The Necklace Review

Character vs. Self

Mathilde is not satisfied and therefore has a conflict with her own greed. She believes that wealth will make her happy, and because she is not as rich as she wants to be, she is unhappy. Also, she is dishonest and then has to face the consequences.

Paris, France, 1880

Mathilde and her husband, Monsieur Loisel, are a young, middle-class couple.  Monsieur Loisel is a clerk for the Ministry of Education, and Mathilde hates their shabby apartment and humble maid.

Monsieur Loisel tells Mathilde that they have been invited to a ball. Mathilde refuses the invitation, claiming to have nothing appropriate to wear.

Monsieur Loisel gives her money for a new dress, but she still thinks she needs jewelry to wear. She borrows a diamond necklace from her friend, Madame Forrestier, and she is greatly admired at the party.

After the party, Matilde realizes that she lost the necklace, and she and her husband search frantically for it!

Instead of telling Madame Forrestier, they buy a replacement necklace, which causes them to go into great debt. For many years, they work tirelessly to pay off this debt.

Mathilde sees Jeanne Forestier one day and tells her the story of the lost necklace and the debt.  Mme Forestier tells Mathilde that the necklace had been a fake and worth very little.

Guy de Maupassant leaves the readers to imagine how Mathilde feels after discovering this ironic twist!