The Necklace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "The Necklace" | |
|---|---|
| Author | Guy de Maupassant |
| Original title | "La Parure" |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Genre(s) | Short Story |
| Publication date | 1884 |
The Necklace or The Diamond Necklace (French: La Parure) is a short story by Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois. The story has become one of Maupassant's popular works and is well known for its twist ending. It is also the inspiration for Henry James's short story, "Paste".[citation needed] It has been dramatised as a musical by the Irish composer Conor Mitchell, first produced professionally by Thomas Hopkins and Andrew Jenkins for Surefire Theatrical Ltd at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007.
[edit] Plot summary
"The Necklace" tells the story of Madame Mathilde Loisel and her husband. When Mathilde was little, she always imagined herself in a high social position with wonderful jewels. However, when she grows up, she has nothing and marries a lowly clerk who is obsessed with making her happy.
Through lots of begging at work, he is able to get two invitations to the Ministry of Education's party. Mathilde is upset, for she has nothing to wear. Using money that he was saving to buy a rifle, he lets Mathilde buy a fancy dress. Mathilde also wants jewels to wear with it. Since they have no money left, her husband suggests that she borrow something from her friend, Madame Jeanne Forestier. Mathilde picks out the fanciest jewel necklace that she can find. After attending the Ministry of Education's party, Mathilde finds out that she has lost the necklace.
Mathilde and her husband then have to work for ten years to come up with the 36,000 francs to buy a replacement necklace. After losing everything, having to work, and forcing her husband to work two jobs, Mathilde sees Madame Forestier walking down the street and tells her that the necklace she returned to her was actually a replacement. Madame Forestier is surprised and tells Mathilde that the original necklace was actually a copy, worth only 500 francs.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
|
Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
- Text of The Diamond Necklace
- Free audiobook : La Parure (The Necklace) (in French)
- Audio-Text of "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. Complete text with audio narration.
