Summary of The Diamond Necklace - Guy de Maupassant

 

The Diamond Necklace – Guy de Maupassant

Characters:

Madame Loisel / Matilda: young, charm, greedy.

Monsieur Loisel              : Simple, clerk at Ministry of Education.

Madame Forestier           : Rich, friend of Madame Loisel.

Summary:

          Madame Loisel lived in small house, not well furnished.  Appointed a young girl as maid.  Madame Loisel was not content with what she had.  She wanted to have delicious food like wings of chickens at any time she wants.  She also fonded of  jewelleries.  Since her husband was an ordinary clerk she could not fulfill all her desires. 

One day, Mr. Loisel brought her an invitation of Ministry of Education.  Initially she refused to accept the invitation due to not having fine attires to wear for party.   Mr. Loisel decided to spend his only savings that he had for purchasing a gun.  Still, Madame Loisel was not ready to attend the party because of jewellery.  Then as per her husband’s idea she approached Madame Forestier for the jewel.  Surprisingly, Mme. Loisel got a beautiful diamond necklace.

At the party, everyone attracted to Mme. Loisel, her necklace, her attire, and her charm.  That was the day Mrs. Loisel ever dreamt of.  It was the dream come moment for Mme. Loisel.  Everyone enquired about her whereabouts.  She had spent whole night at the party and returned home at early four.  She realized that she missed her necklace somewhere at the party.  Mr. Loisel went for the search and it was useless.  Mr. Loisel reported the police about missing diamond necklace.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Loisel wrote to Madame Forestier that she had broken the clasp of the diamond necklace, so she could return it back after few days as it went for repairment.  Mr and Mme. Loisel were in search of same diamond necklace at the end they found the look alike of that jewellery at Palais-Royal.  It was estimated at 40,000 francs, finally they paid 36,000 francs for it.  Mr. Loisel spent all the money (18,000 francs) his father left for him and he managed the rest by debt. 

After handover the newly bought diamond necklace Matilda returned home with heavy heart, thinking about the debt that she has to repay.  From that moment her life changed remarkably.  She stopped keeping maid, moved to low rented house, wearing simple clothes, doing all the households herself (got her nails dark), made her husband to do over duty. 

Ten years have passed.  It is completely new Madame Loisel, who had strong heart, messy hair then old clothes.  On the side walk, Mme. Loisel happened to meet Mme. Forestier for the first time since she had returned diamond necklace.  Mme Forestier could recognize her poor friend.  Mme. Loisel introduced herself and explained what she went through after the party. After hearing the poor story of Mme. Loisel, Mme. Forestier revealed that it was not even diamond but imitation.  Mme. Forestier said that not to worry about money and the things that the couple lost.  She also said they had saved thirty six thousand francs in ten years.