| Name | The Necklace Summary |
| Type | Summary |
| Class | 10 |
| Board | CBSE Board |
| Author | Guy de Maupassant |
Introduction
In “The Necklace,” Mathilde, a Parisian woman who is firmly middle-class yet dreams of great fortune and love, is followed throughout her day-to-day activities. She receives two tickets to a fancypants ball from her adoring but unglamorous clerk spouse one day. Since she has nothing to wear, she is upset. Does this seem a bit like a fairy tale?
Class 10 CBSE English – “The Necklace Summary”
Guy de Maupassant wrote The Necklace. He was a well-known writer from the 19th century who is most known for his short stories that are based on actual events. In this made-up short story, Matilda Loisel, a gorgeous woman, and her husband resided in a modest but cosy apartment. He cherished his wife passionately and was employed as a clerk in the board of education’s office. They weren’t wealthy enough to lead an extravagant life. They had an easy existence. Matilda was dissatisfied with herself and constantly wanted to be wealthy. She frequently brooded and felt frustrated about her financial situation because she didn’t have a lavish mansion to live in or plenty of money to spend. She never had any of the lovely outfits or jewellery she always wanted to wear.
Mme Loisel’s husband surprised her one fine day with an invitation to a lavish ball party at the Minister’s home. He expected that when his wife saw the invitation letter, she would be overjoyed. Instead, when his wife read the invitation, she showed her anger over it, threw the letter to the floor, and began crying about her situation. When questioned, she complained about the lack of a lovely outfit to wear on such a significant occasion. At the celebration, she wanted to present a lovely and polished image so that everyone would adore her. Her devoted husband, who felt sorry for Matilda, donated all of his $400 in savings so she could purchase a lovely outfit. He had set aside that sum of money to purchase a gun for himself, but instead, he donated it to his wife to purchase an outfit.
The big party’s week was quickly approaching. Matilda once more appeared concerned. This time, she felt that her gorgeous clothing lacked any complementary jewellery. In response, her husband suggested she ask Mme Jeanne Forestier, a friend, for a necklace. Matilda quickly rushed to Jeanne’s house to borrow a diamond necklace.
Mme Loisel, who was pleased with her appearance, attended the ball party with her husband. She was thrilled that she had been able to get the guests’ attention at the reception. They had a wonderful time at the celebration. They soon prepared to return home in the early morning hours. Matilda noticed the necklace wasn’t around her neck when they got home. She and her husband were concerned it might have dropped into the cab they had gotten into on the way home from the party. In case it had fallen there, her husband quickly proceeded to check the streets, but he was unsuccessful.
Soon after, he contacted the police and published an advertisement offering a reward in the newspapers, but both efforts were ineffective. Without any other choice, Matilda’s husband instructed her to notify Mme Forestier in writing that the clasp had broken and that she would return it after it was fixed. They had managed to locate a duplicate of the jewellery in the meantime, so they chose to swap it out for the original. The new jewellery, however, cost 36,000 francs, which was a huge price. For his son, Matilda’s father-in-law handed him 18,000 francs. To purchase the pricey necklace, they chose to borrow the remaining funds. They used all of their cash and borrowed money to purchase the necklace.
As their lives drastically changed as a result of the enormous loan over the following few years, their condition deteriorated. Matilda handled all the domestic duties by herself after they downsized their residence. To pay back the loan, her spouse worked various jobs at strange hours. Ten years went by, and because of their excessive workload, their appearance also changed. Matilda once ran across Mme Jeanne Forestier, who was unable to recognize her due to her worn-out appearance. Mme Loisel told her companion the truth about how she and her husband had to pay back the pricey necklace loan, leaving them in ruin. Mme Forestier was shocked when she heard this and informed the woman that the jewellery she had given her for the ball party was a fake, only worth about 500 francs.
About the author
It is a brief work of fiction written in the realistic style. Guy de Maupassant was the creator of this tale. The narrative had an ironic, or unexpected, conclusion. This kind of conclusion was a defining feature of Maupassant’s writing.
Conclusion – “The Necklace”
The Necklace centres on the idea that one should be happy with their possessions and not desire for pricey objects that are out of their financial reach. Extreme longing for expensive goods results in sadness and a loss of mental calmness.
FAQs on The Necklace Summary
What is “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant about?
“The Necklace” is a short story by Guy de Maupassant that is about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who is discontented with her life as a commoner and longs for the luxuries of the upper class. She borrows a necklace from a friend to wear to a fancy event, but loses it and spends the next ten years of her life working to pay off the debt of replacing it.
Who is the main character in “The Necklace”?
The main character in “The Necklace” is Mathilde Loisel, a woman who is discontent with her life as a commoner.
What is the theme of “The Necklace”?
The theme of “The Necklace” is the consequences of materialism and the futility of trying to attain a higher social status through material possessions. The story shows how Mathilde’s desire for luxury leads to her downfall, and how her actions have a ripple effect on her life.
What is the moral of the story?
The moral of the story is that material possessions can never bring true happiness and that greed can ultimately lead to one’s downfall. The story also teaches that appearances can be deceiving and people should be content with what they have.
What is the significance of the necklace in the story?
The necklace in the story symbolizes Mathilde’s desire for material possessions and her longing for a higher social status. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of materialism and the futility of trying to attain happiness through material possessions.
How does the story end?
The story ends with Mathilde finally learning the truth that the necklace she borrowed was a fake one and all the troubles she went through were for nothing.
