The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant about Matilda Loisel, a young woman who longs for wealth and luxury but is married to a clerk. When she is invited to a grand ball, she borrows a diamond necklace from her rich friend, Madame Forestier. She loses the necklace and, to replace it, the couple borrows a huge sum of money. They spend ten years in harsh poverty repaying the debt. At the end, Matilda learns that the borrowed necklace was false and worth only five hundred francs. The story explores themes of discontent, honesty, sacrifice, and the irony of fate. Students will learn how small choices can change lives and why being content with what we have matters.
What you'll learn
1Describe Matilda Loisel's character and the reasons for her constant unhappiness
2Explain how the loss of the necklace changes the Loisels' lives
3Trace the steps the Loisels take to replace the necklace
4Analyse the theme of irony in the story's ending
5Discuss the values of honesty and contentment
6Identify the consequences of borrowing and debt in the story
Chapter at a glance
01Mathilde's Life of Discontent and Longing
02The Lost Necklace and Its Consequences
03Years of Struggle and Repayment
04The Irony of Truth and Sacrifice
Detailed chapter notes
01
Matilda's Discontent and Longing
Matilda Loisel is a pretty young woman born into a family of clerks. She has no dowry and no means to marry a rich or distinguished man, so she marries a petty clerk in the Board of Education. She is unhappy with her simple life. She suffers from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls, and the worn chairs. She dreams of elegant dinners, shining silver, and exquisite food. She has a rich friend, Madame Forestier, whom she avoids visiting because she feels sad after returning. Her husband, M. Loisel, is a simple and kind man who tries to please her. One evening he brings home an invitation to a ball at the Minister's residence. Instead of being happy, Matilda throws the invitation on the table and complains that she has no dress to wear.
Matildapretty, young, born into a family of clerks, no dowry
She marries a petty clerk in the Board of Education
She is unhappy with her simple life and dreams of luxury
Her husband is kind and tries to make her happy
02
The Dress and the Borrowed Necklace
M. Loisel gives Matilda four hundred francs, which he had saved to buy a gun, so she can buy a dress. But Matilda is still unhappy because she has no jewellery. Her husband suggests she borrow jewels from her friend Madame Forestier. Matilda visits her friend and chooses a superb diamond necklace from a black satin box. She borrows it and goes to the ball. At the ball, she is a great success. She is the prettiest of all, elegant and gracious. All the men notice her and want to be introduced. She dances with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure. She returns home at four in the morning. When she removes her wraps before the glass, she discovers that the necklace is missing.
M. Loisel gives 400 francs for a dress
Matilda borrows a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier
She is a great success at the ball
She loses the necklace after returning home
03
The Search and the Replacement
Matilda and her husband search everywhere for the necklace but cannot find it. They look in the folds of the dress, the cloak, and the pockets. They ask the police and the cab offices and put an advertisement in the newspapers offering a reward, but they find nothing. They decide to replace the necklace. In a shop in the Palais-Royal, they find a chaplet of diamonds that looks exactly like the lost one. It is valued at forty thousand francs, but they can get it for thirty-six thousand. Loisel has eighteen thousand francs left by his father. He borrows the rest, making ruinous promises and taking money from usurers. They buy the new necklace and return it to Madame Forestier. She does not open the jewel-box, and Matilda fears she might notice the substitution.
They search everywhere but cannot find the necklace
They find a similar necklace for 36,000 francs
Loisel has 18,000 francs; he borrows the rest
They return the new necklace to Madame Forestier
04
Years of Struggle and Repayment
To pay the frightful debt, the Loisels live a life of poverty. They send away their maid and move to an attic. Matilda does the odious work of a kitchen. She washes dishes, washes soiled linen, and takes down the refuse. She goes to the grocer, the butcher, and the fruiterer, haggling for every sou. Her husband works evenings and nights, copying at five sous a page. This life lasts for ten years. At the end of ten years, they have paid off all their debts. Matilda now looks old. She has become a strong, hard woman of the poor household. Her hair is badly dressed, her skirts are awry, and her hands are red. Sometimes she sits by the window and thinks of that evening at the ball when she was so beautiful and flattered.
They dismiss the maid and move to an attic
Matilda does heavy household work
M. Loisel works extra hours copying
The struggle lasts ten years
05
The Irony of Truth and Sacrifice
One Sunday, Matilda sees Madame Forestier in the Champs-Elysees. Madame Forestier is still young and pretty. Matilda approaches her and tells her the whole story. She explains that she lost the necklace and replaced it with an identical one, and that it took ten years to pay for it. Madame Forestier is astonished. She takes Matilda's hands and reveals that her necklace was false. It was not worth more than five hundred francs. This is the great irony of the story: the Loisels sacrificed ten years of their lives to replace a necklace that was actually cheap. The story ends with this shocking revelation, leaving readers to reflect on the themes of honesty, contentment, and the unpredictable nature of life.
Matilda meets Madame Forestier after ten years
Matilda tells her the truth about the necklace
Madame Forestier reveals the necklace was false
The necklace was worth only 500 francs
Want the complete chapter resources?Topic notes, quizzes and flashcards for The Necklace.
Q1. Why was Mathilde Loisel always unhappy in her married life? Give two reasons from the text.
Show model answer
Model answer
Mathilde was always unhappy because she felt she was born for all delicacies and luxuries but had married a petty clerk and lived in poverty. She suffered from the shabby walls, worn chairs, and lack of dresses and jewels, which tortured and angered her. She loved only those things, and her simple life made her despair.
Sample question3 marks
Q2. What was the immediate reaction of M. and Mme Loisel when they discovered the necklace was missing?
Show model answer
Model answer
When Mme Loisel discovered the necklace was missing, she uttered a cry. Her husband, already half undressed, asked what was the matter. They searched the folds of her dress, cloak, and pockets but found nothing. Loisel then went out to trace their route on foot, but found nothing. He went to the police and cab offices, and put an advertisement in the newspapers offering a reward, but all in vain.
Sample question3 marks
Q3. Describe the changes in the Loisels' lifestyle and the sacrifices they made to repay the debt incurred due to the lost necklace.
Show model answer
Model answer
To repay the debt, the Loisels sent away their maid, changed their lodgings, and rented rooms in an attic. Mme Loisel learned the odious work of a kitchen, washed dishes, cleaned linen, took down refuse, brought up water, and went shopping haggling to the last sou. The husband worked evenings to put merchants' books in order and did copying at night at five sous a page. This life lasted for ten years until they had restored all.
Sample question3 marks
Q4. What is the central irony in the story 'The Necklace'? Explain with reference to Matilda's sacrifice.
Show model answer
Model answer
The central irony is that Matilda and her husband sacrificed ten years of their lives to replace a necklace they thought was made of real diamonds, only to discover at the end that the original necklace was fake and worth only five hundred francs. Their immense sacrifice—enduring poverty, hard labor, and loss of youth—was for nothing, as the necklace they replaced was practically worthless. This twist highlights the irony of their truth and sacrifice.
Sample question3 marks
Q5. How did Mathilde react to the invitation for the party at the Minister's residence? What did she demand from her husband?
Show model answer
Model answer
Mathilde threw the invitation spitefully on the table and murmured that she had no use for it. When her husband suggested wearing her theatre dress, she wept and declared she had no dress to wear, so she could not attend. She demanded four hundred francs to buy a suitable costume, which her husband reluctantly gave, sacrificing his savings for a gun.
Want more questions with answers?Get the full practice set for this chapter.
The Necklace is about Matilda Loisel, who borrows a diamond necklace from her friend to wear to a ball. She loses it and replaces it with a new one, spending ten years in poverty to repay the debt. At the end, she learns the original necklace was false.
Why was Matilda always unhappy?
Matilda was unhappy because she was born into a family of clerks and had no dowry or means to marry a rich man. She longed for luxury and elegance but lived a simple life, which made her feel deprived and discontented.
What kind of person is Matilda's husband?
Matilda's husband, M. Loisel, is a kind, simple, and understanding clerk. He gives up his savings for her dress, suggests borrowing the necklace, and works hard for ten years to repay the debt without complaining.
How did the Loisels replace the necklace?
They found a similar diamond necklace in a shop for 36,000 francs. Loisel had 18,000 francs from his father's inheritance and borrowed the rest from usurers. They bought the new necklace and returned it to Madame Forestier.
What is the irony in The Necklace?
The irony is that Matilda and her husband spent ten years in poverty to replace a necklace that was actually false and worth only 500 francs. Their sacrifice was unnecessary, highlighting the story's theme of irony and the consequences of dishonesty.
What is the theme of The Necklace?
The main themes are discontent, honesty, sacrifice, and the irony of fate. The story shows how small choices can change lives and why we should be content with what we have.
Related English — Footprints Without Feet chapters