THE NECKLACE (La Parure) is a short story written by a French author Guy de Maupassant, it was published in 1884. The story is very interesting, it teaches a great moral lesson and the tricky thing is you will get to understand it after reading the end. If you miss the last line, you miss the whole story.
I tried to summarize the story: Mathilde was a very beautiful girl who loved luxury, but since she was born to a poor family and had no dowry, she had no choice but to marry a poor man, a clerk in the Ministry of Public Instruction. She was constantly distressed by their poverty; she thought she deserved better. One day they were invited to a party at her husband’s workplace, which was to be attended by high social coward. Mathilde was upset because she had nothing to wear. Her husband gave her all of the money he had been saving for a new hunting rifle, so she can buy a new dress. Though she finds a very beautiful gown, she was increasingly anxious as the day of the ball approached, because she had no jewelry to wear with her elegant dress. Her husband suggested her to wear some simple flowers but she found the idea ridiculous. She decided to borrow a diamond necklace from a rich friend of hers. In a new dress and a borrowed necklace, Mathilde killed it. She was the most beautiful creature in the room, all the eyes were on her. For a moment, she thought her dreams were finally coming true. But the dreams could not last longer, they had to go back to their reality. When they arrived home, Mathilde went for a last wistful look in the mirror before she removes her outfit. But upon seeing her reflection, something unexpected happened: the necklace was gone! whaaaat??? She had lost the borrowed diamonds. They tried to search for it everywhere but couldn’t find it. To prolong an explanation, Mathilde told her friend that she had broken it and it is being repaired. After many failed attempts to find the necklace, they decided to replace it. But how? Remember they were poor and diamonds are extremely expensive. Mathilde and her husband borrowed money from everyone they knew in order to buy a new identical necklace. After having gathered the money, they bought it and gave it to the owner. It took them 10 good years of day and night hard work to pay the money back. Mathilde no longer complained, she had then understood what true poverty is. One Sunday Mathilde ran into her rich friend (the one she borrowed the necklace from), who barely recognized her. The dreadful work had turned Mathilde into an ugly, tired and old woman. Her friend was chocked by this unbelievable change. Mathilde explained to her friend how she has been living an awfully difficult life because of the lost necklace. The woman was extremely surprised, she stopped short and said... This is how I imagine the scene went like: The woman: so you mean the necklace you brought back is real diamonds? Mathilde: yes. The woman: actually, the necklace you borrowed from me was fake diamonds. This how a woman’s life was ruined because of a fake necklace. To sum up, I think the moral of the story is: Be satisfied and grateful for the things you have rather than striving for things that may appear better but often are not.
6 Comments
Anne
6/19/2020 01:53:36
Wow!! Another book review. Keep improving sis! but we do miss your writings And your heart touching poems
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A
6/19/2020 10:50:57
U're still the best 😊
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Patrick Elie
6/19/2020 23:56:31
Poor Mathirde! Gracious!!
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Ntwari Jean Bosco
6/20/2020 00:08:00
Heart touching story
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Who's behind the blogHello I am Denyse INEZA
My blog's name "ishyapluma" is made of two words ishya and pluma. Ishya from my mother tongue(kinyarwanda)means prosperity and pluma is a Spanish word for pen. Being very introverted, I started blogging because I was so inside my head and I needed a way to get out of it. later on it became a way of reaching out to my audience. I now write to influence, to inspire and to give hope for a prosperous future to me as well as to everyone reading this blog. I write to heal. Welcome to Ishyapluma! Contact: +250784266072 Archives
June 2021
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