The Diamond Necklace

Question

by Guy de Maupassant

Mathilde suffered ceaselessly, feeling herself born to enjoy all delicacies and all luxuries. She was distressed at the poverty of her dwelling, at the bareness of the walls, at the shabby chairs, the ugliness of the curtains. All those things, of which another woman of her rank would never even have been conscious, tortured her and made her angry. The sight of the little Breton peasant who did her humble housework aroused in her despairing regrets and bewildering dreams. She thought of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestry, illumined by tall bronze candelabra, and of two great footmen in knee breeches who sleep in the big armchairs, made drowsy by the oppressive heat of the stove. She thought of long reception halls hung with ancient silk, of the dainty cabinets containing priceless curiosities and of the little coquettish perfumed reception rooms made for chatting at five o’clock with intimate friends, with men famous and sought after, whom all women envy and whose attention they all desire.

"The DIamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

The Diamond Necklace
by Guy de Maupassant

Thereafter Madame Loisel knew the horrible existence of the needy. She bore her part, however, with sudden heroism. That dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they changed their lodgings; they rented a garret under the roof.

She came to know what heavy housework meant and the odious cares of the kitchen. She washed the dishes, using her dainty fingers and rosy nails on greasy pots and pans. She washed the soiled linen, the shirts and the dishcloths, which she dried upon a line; she carried the slops down to the street every morning and carried up the water, stopping for breath at every landing. And dressed like a woman of the people, she went to the fruiterer, the grocer, the butcher, a basket on her arm, bargaining, meeting with impertinence, defending her miserable money, sou by sou.

"The Diamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

Answer 1

"The Diamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant is a poignant story that illustrates themes of wealth, pride, and the consequences of vanity. The protagonist, Madame Mathilde Loisel, is a woman who feels entitled to a life of luxury and comfort but is trapped in a modest existence. This discontent leads her to borrow a beautiful diamond necklace for a ball, believing it will grant her the life she yearns for, one filled with admiration and status.

However, when she loses the necklace and must work for years to repay the debt incurred from replacing it, her life takes a tragic turn. The story unfolds to reveal the irony of her situation: the borrowed necklace was merely a costume piece, not the expensive jewel she had thought it to be. Her experience transforms Mathilde, making her acutely aware of the hardships of life and the stark difference between her daydreams and her reality.

This tale serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of materialism and the superficial values of society, highlighting how one's desires can lead to unforeseen consequences. Maupassant's masterful storytelling evokes empathy for Mathilde while simultaneously critiquing societal expectations of beauty and status.