The Necklace Video

“The Necklace” is a short story written by French writer Guy de Maupassant. The titular story in Maupassant’s 1888 collection, the story was extremely popular at the time of its publishing, heralded for its signature twist ending. “The Necklace” tells the story of Mathilde Loisel, a young woman who, dissatisfied with her ordinary life, goes to great pains to attend an extravagant ball.

The story opens on Mathilde, a young woman from modest circumstances who believes she was destined for an upper-class life. With no money for a dowry, she marries Monsieur Loisel, a clerk from the Board of Education. Mathilde—now Madame Loisel—detests her and her husband’s humble dwelling, food, and clothing, and daydreams about a life of sophistication.

One evening, her husband returns home from work with an invitation for him and Madame Loisel to attend a lavish ball at the Minister of Education’s residence. But to Monsieur Loisel’s surprise, his wife throws down the invitation, weeping. Dismayed, she informs him that she has nothing to wear to such an event and therefore cannot attend.

Monsieur Loisel asks his wife how much she would need to buy a suitable dress. She answers that she would need 400 francs. Unbeknownst to her, this is the exact amount that her husband has been saving to go hunting with his friends. Instead, he gives it to his wife to buy a dress for the ball.

Madame Loisel buys a dress, but as the party approaches, she again grows restless and gloomy. When her husband asks her what’s wrong, she replies that she is too embarrassed to attend the ball without any jewels. Her husband suggests that she asks her affluent friend, Madame Forestier, if she might borrow some jewels.

Amazed that she hadn’t thought of this, Madame Loisel takes her husband’s advice and pays a visit to Madame Forestier, browsing through her assorted jewelry. Finally, she discovers a beautiful diamond necklace in a black satin box. Heart racing, she tries it on, hesitating to ask Madame Forestier if she can borrow it. To Madame Loisel’s great relief, her friend agrees to lend it to her.

The day of the ball arrives, and Madame Loisel is a triumph. Not only is she more beautiful and elegant than the other women present, she floats on a “cloud of happiness.” Many of the men in attendance, including every cabinet member, stare at her and ask her to waltz. Even the minister takes notice.

It is not until 4 o’clock in the morning that the Loisels leave the ball, taking a cab home. Once inside, Madame Loisel undresses somberly, disappointed that the night is over. Monsieur Loisel is oblivious, distracted by the fact that he must work that morning. Suddenly, Madame Loisel lets out a cry. The necklace is no longer around her neck.

Convinced that she dropped it in the cab on the way home, Monsieur Loisel spends the wee hours retracing their path home, searching high and low for the necklace. Unable to find it, he goes to the police, reports the lost item to the cab companies, and even advertises a reward for the necklace’s return. Monsieur Loisel returns that evening, empty-handed. He instructs his wife to write to Madame Forestier, telling her that the clasp is being repaired. That way, they’ll buy some time to keep looking.

A week passes, and Monsieur Loisel decides that they must consider how to replace the necklace. Going from one jeweler to another, the couple finally settles on a necklace that closely resembles the original, bargaining the jeweler who owns it down to 36,000 francs. Monsieur Loisel decides to use his savings of 18,000 francs, an inheritance from his father, and to borrow the other half at a high interest rate. Hoping her friend will not notice the difference, Madame Loisel returns the satin box with the new necklace inside.

For ten years, the couple toils to repay their loans, dismissing their maid and moving into a ramshackle dwelling to save money. One day, after the couple finally pays off their debts, Madame Loisel runs into Madame Forestier and decides to tell her the whole story.