“The Necklace” begins with a description of Madame Mathilde . Though she is “pretty and charming,” she and her , a clerk in the Ministry of , are not well off financially. She has always dreamed of a of leisure, with attentive servants and a large , but her lifestyle is decidedly more modest. Ashamed of her social standing, she no longer visits Madame , an old school who has become .

When the Loisels are to a ball, Loisel becomes very upset, insisting that she has nothing appropriate to to such an event. Hoping to make his feel better, Monsieur Loisel offers to buy her a new . As the ball approaches, Madame Loisel again becomes anxious because she has no to wear. Her husband suggests she borrow jewels from Madame Forestier. Madame Loisel pays her friend a visit the next day. She is welcomed and encouraged to any piece of jewelry that she desires. She selects a beautiful diamond necklace.

At the ball, Madame Loisel herself immensely and many men notice her. She until 4:00 in the morning, and then she and her husband return in a decrepit cab. Not until they are back in their humble house does Madame Loisel realize that she has lost the necklace. Her husband spends several hours retracing their steps but finds nothing. They decide to the necklace without telling Madame Forestier, and they go heavily in debt.

Years of toil and grueling work in an effort to repay their debt ages Madame Loisel so she looks quite than her years. After long years of poverty, however, they finally pay off their entire debt. Still, Madame Loisel wistfully and fondly remembers the evening of the ball. One day shortly thereafter, Madame Loisel runs into Madame Forestier, who still looks young and . Madame Loisel tells her friend the whole story. Madame Forestier, who had not realized that her necklace had been replaced with another, reveals that the original, made of imitation diamonds, was not .