Resumo de The Diamond Necklace

Like many of thestoriesbyGuy de Maupassant, this little tale is a gem; mixing local colour, touching character sketches and an ironic ending--all standard devices of this great French writer.

Pretty and pleasant young Mathilde, born into a world lacking the money and power necessary to introduce her to proper society--or at least the society to which her dreams have entitled her--consents to marry a mere clerk in government office. Her days are filled with sad comparisons of the 'if only' nature. If only she hadlovely gowns, lavish tapestries, stunning jewellery! Then indeed she would be in the element to which she felt entitled. But alas hers was the life of a Breton peasant.

One evening, sitting down to supper with her husband he reveals to her an invitation for them both to a ball held by his own department at the palace of the Ministry. Thinking his young wife would be pleased he instead discovers that she is morose, claiming it would require at least four hundred francs for a proper gown, which she doubted, through tear-stained eyes, that they could afford. But to her surprise her husband agrees and the gown is procured.

The evening of the soiree however, Mathilde is again down-hearted claiming she but needs some piece of jewllery to go with her lovely gown. Her husband, ever helpful offers the suggestion she look up her well-placed aquaintance Madame Forestier and request a loan of one of her pieces. Mathilde follows up on this and is offered a certain piece "in a black satin box, a superb diamond necklace, and her heart throbbed with an immoderate desire...as she took it."

Alas at the end of the evening the necklace is discovered to be lost and Matilde and her husband 'Loisel' are at their wits end seeking a solution, when it comes upon them to look up the jeweller who's title is inscribed on the inside of the box the necklace came in. One thing leads to another and the couple decide on the only course of action they can take--to buy a similar necklace and place it in the box to be returned to Madame Forestier, in the hope that the Madame will not notice the imitation. To carry out this plan they must of course borrow heavily from various sources, because even the imitation necklace is priced at no small sum.

We watch as Mathilde and Loisel spend the next ten years, slaving and scrimping to pay off the loans, which eventually they do with interest, but at no small cost in effort and shear hard work.

The poigancy of the ending makes this one ofMaupassant's most entertaining tales.

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