The Diamond Necklace by Guy de Maupassant (1884)
Elements of the Story
1. Setting:
a. Place:
The story happened in Paris, France.
 House of Monsieur and Madame Mathilde Loisel
 House of Madame Jeanne Forestier
 At the party
 Palais-Royal and other jewelry stores
 Streets of Paris (Rue des Martyrs, Seine, Champs-Elysees)
b. Time:
The story happened in the late 19th century (1800-1900), since it was written during 1884.
 Party: Evening of Monday, January the 18th
c. Weather Conditions:
There was no sun or storm mentioned, but it was cold because January is winter season in France.
d. Social Conditions:
The story showed the French society and the daily life of Madame Mathilde reflects her middle class
position in the society. She cannot afford expensive things but she still lives well.
e. Mood or Atmosphere:
The mood created in the beginning was about the discontentment of Madame Mathilde of her poor life
and her dream to be rich.
2. Characters
a. Madame Mathilde Loisel (Protagonist):
She is the main character in the story and was described as a pretty and charming girl born in a poor
family which made her very jealous of other women. Growing up and even until she became married to
Monsier Loisel, she aspires to live with luxury that she cannot have.
b. Monsieur Loisel (Protagonist):
He is the husband of Madame Mathilde Loisel, who works as a clerk in the Ministry of Education. His
character shows love to the main character by giving his earned francs to buy Madame Mathilde’s dress. He
also helped his wife to work for their debts caused by the lost diamond necklace.
c. Madame Jeanne Forestier (Protagonist):
She is the rich friend of the main character who lent the diamond necklace. Madame Forestier is kind
because she let Madame Mathilde choose whatever she wants as jewelry for the ball.
3. Plot
a. Exposition
Mathilde is born with beauty but always felt discontented with her life. She was not rich and was not
able to be married to someone wealthy. Her husband, Monsieur Loisel, can only give her needs but not her
wants.
b. Rising Action
One night, her husband gave her an invitation to a party in hopes of making Madame Mathilde happy,
but she got furious instead. Her reason was she does not have beautiful dress and jewelry to use, so
Monsieur Loisel gave her the money he saved for buying a gun and advised her to ask Madame Jeanne’s help
for the jewelry. With the newly bought dress and diamond necklace she borrowed from Madame Jeanne
Forestier, Madame Mathilde became the prettiest during the party.
c. Climax
The party ended and both Monsieur and Madame Loisel went home when Madame Loisel realized that
the necklace was not on her neck anymore, it was missing. They desperately searched till the next day but no
necklace was found, even after trying to offer rewards.
d. Falling Action
Since no matter how hard they tried to look for the necklace they cannot find it, they decided to replace
the lost diamond necklace instead. Madame Mathilde made an excuse to Madame Forestier that she cannot
return it right away and asked all jewelers for a necklace that looks the same of the one she lost. Madame
Mathilde found one at a shop named Palais-Royal at a cost of thirty six thousand francs. They were able to
buy the necklace and return it to Madame Forestier without her noticing that it was a different one. But it has
cost the couple numerous debts that they were able to pay for a span of ten tragic years.
e. Denouement
After paying off everything, it stressed Madame Mathilde so much that she looked so much older now.
While walking along the streets, she saw Madame Jeanne Forestier with a child and decided to tell her the
truth about the necklace. Mathilde started blaming her friend of her hardships which was not known to
Madame Jeanne. Mathilde finally said that it was because of the diamond necklace she lost and replaced it
with another one that cost thirty six thousand francs. Upon hearing the story, Madame Jeanne felt sorry for
Madame Mathilde and told her that the first necklace that was lost was only an imitation at a price of five
hundred francs.