Summary

The short story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant introduces Mathilde Loisel, a poor young woman who believes that owning riches will bring her happiness. Mathilde marries a clerk working at the Ministry of Public Instruction, but is unhappy because of her economic situation. Mathilde is jealous of one of her friends named Mme. Forestier, who is rich. 

One day, Mathilde’s husband gets an invitation to a ball organized by the Minister of Public Instruction. Mathilde is sad and tells her husband that she does not want to attend, as she does not have a suitable dress. Her husband agrees to give her four hundred francs to buy a dress, but he regrets not keeping the money for a future shooting trip.

As the day of the ball approaches, Mathilde is still sad. She tells her husband that she does not want to attend the ball because she ...