The Necklace

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Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist. Her main trait is dissatisfaction with her social status and constant yearning for luxury and wealth that she cannot afford.

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Mathilde belongs to the lower-middle class (her husband is a minor clerk). She aspires to be part of the aristocratic upper class with luxuries, jewels, and grand mansions.

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He brings an invitation to a party at the Ministry of Education. Instead of being delighted, Mathilde is upset because she has nothing suitable to wear and no jewelry.

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Mathilde asks for 400 francs for a dress. Her husband sacrifices his savings meant for buying a hunting gun to give her the money.

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Madame Forestier is Mathilde's wealthy former schoolmate from the convent. She lends Mathilde the diamond necklace that becomes central to the story's conflict.

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At the party, Mathilde was a great success. She was prettier than all other women, elegant, gracious, and full of joy. She danced wildly with passion, forgetting everything in her triumph.

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They discover it's missing when they reach home at 4 AM after the party. Mathilde looks in the mirror and realizes the necklace is no longer around her neck.

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He searches the route they walked, goes to the police, newspapers to offer a reward, cab companies, and anywhere there was 'a glimmer of hope' to find the necklace.