-
Set in France in 1888, a woman named Mathilde is young and beautiful. She lives in a small flat with her husband Monsieur Loisel who is the junior clerk in ministry of education. They're middle class and have enough money to get by, but Mathilde always wanted more. Mathilde is ashamed of her living situation and thinks she us born for a life of fame and luxury.
-
One night Monsieur Loisel brings home two invitations for a party from his work. He expects Mathilde to jump for joy but her initial reaction is to be upset because she has nothing to wear. Loisel gives her the 400 francs he was saving up to buy a beautiful dress for the party. Once again Mathilde is complaining because she realizes there is no jewelry to wear with the dress. Loisel suggests he asks her much richer friend Madame Forester to borrow a piece of jewelry.
-
Mathilde pays a visit to Madame Forester and she kindly lends her a diamond necklace to borrow for the night. When Mathilde arrives at the party she is the center of attention the whole night. Everyone their wants to talk to her and get to know her. Mathilde is loving the attention while her husband is sleeping somewhere on a couch. They eventually leave at 4am. Loisel tries to cover Mathilde in a wrap but she refuses, because it reminds her of her poverty that she is ashamed of.
-
Once Mathilde gets home she realizes that her necklace is gone! Loisel rushes back to the street and searches everywhere they went to try and look for it. He even goes to the police station, but comes back empty handed. Loisel tells Mathilde not to worry. He says to tell her friend that the clasp has broken, and it is getting fixed and should be returned soon. A week goea by and the necklace is still nowhere to be found. The two have to consider getting money to replace the missing necklace.
-
The necklace replacement cost 36,000 francs. So, Loisel scraped together all the money he has, including his fathers inheritance. After 3 days of finding money, they buy the necklace and return it to Madame Forester. She didn't even open the case to inspect it, to Mathilde's relief. They then enter the life of poverty. The couple have ran into debt trying to pay off the necklace. Loisel has to pick up a second job and Mathilde becomes familiar to what its like to do chores around the house.
-
Their misery lasts 10 years, but the debt is finally payed off. Mathilde looks old and tired now just like the other women who work hard every day. One day while Mathilde is out on a walk, she spots her friend that lent her the necklace. She approaches her but Madame Forester doesn't even recognize her because of her faded beauty.
-
Mathilde eventually identifies herself explains to her the story of losing the necklace, replacing it, and working for ten years to repay the debts. Her friend clasps her hands together and tells Mathilde that the necklace she replaced was a fake and not worth anything more than 400 francs!