The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant
A young couple, Mathilde and Charles, are struggling financially. They attend a party where Mathilde sees an expensive diamond necklace and becomes obsessed with owning it. She borrows the necklace from a wealthy friend, but loses it on the night of a dinner party. Desperate to replace it, they go into debt, eventually losing everything.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1884 · Genre: Realism, Drama, Tragedy · 3,487 words
First lines
She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of artisans. She had no marriage portion, no expectations, no means of getting known, understood, loved, and wedded by a man of wealth and distinction; and she let herself besides be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education.
What this Textopian page supports
The Necklace is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Guy De Maupassant
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Drama, Tragedy, Social Commentary, Feminist Literature
- Length: 3,487 words
- Structure: 1 section, 121 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Realism — The story depicts everyday life and social issues, focusing on the struggles of the protagonist in a realistic manner.
- Drama — The narrative explores intense emotional conflicts and personal dilemmas faced by the characters.
- Tragedy — The protagonist's downfall is a result of her desires and societal pressures, leading to a tragic conclusion.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques social class distinctions and the pursuit of wealth and status.
Tags
Tragic · Romance · Short Story · French Literature · Social Class · Marriage · Deception · Materialism · Luxury · Poverty · Jealousy · Love