the necklace

In Guy De Maupassant’s “The Necklace”, Mathilde Loisel wishes for riches but instead ends up paying 10 years for the necklace she looses. Mathilde is a pretty woman born to a family without material riches, and she always dreams of more. Her husband is a clerk/copyist who is content with their life, and even enjoys the food they eat. Mathilde wishes even their meals could be more extravagant. One evening, Mr. Loisel comes home …

…work hardened and poverty-stricken people, Mathilde decides to tell Mrs. Forrestier what happened. Mathilde goes to Mrs. Forrestier, who doesn’t even recognize her at first. When she does, she is delighted to see her, and takes her into the house. Mathilde explains how she became so hardened and rough from work, and Mrs. Forrestier takes Mathilde’s hands in hers, explaining that her original necklace was false, and not worth much money at all.