Madame Loisel, a woman living in poverty, played a heroic role in paying off her debts. She was dismissed from her job and moved to a new flat. She was responsible for the heavy work of the house and kitchen, washing plates, wearing pink nails on pottery, and washing dirty linen, shirts, and dish-cloths. She would hag and fight for every halfpenny of her money, paying off monthly notes and renewing others as time gained.
Her husband worked at putting straight merchant's accounts, often copying at twopence-halfpenny a page at night. This life lasted ten years, and at the end of it, everything was paid off, except for the usurer's charges and the accumulation of superimposed interest. Madame Loisel looked old and like other strong, hard, coarse women of poor households. She had worn bad hair, skirts, and hands, and sometimes sat down by the window to think about the ball she had been so beautiful and admired at.
One Sunday, while walking along the Champs-Elysees, she met Madame Forestier, still young, beautiful, and attractive. Madame Loisel asked her why she hadn't spoken to her before. Jeanne, who didn't recognize her, asked her why she hadn't spoken to her. Madame Loisel explained that she had lost a diamond necklace she had borrowed for the ball at the Ministry and had brought back another one just like it. They had been paying for it for the last ten years, and they were glad it was paid for.
Madame Forestier, deeply moved, took her two hands and revealed that her diamond necklace was an imitation worth at most five hundred francs. The story highlights the harsh realities of poverty and the importance of honesty and self-reflection in overcoming hardships.
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The Necklace Summary
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