Explanation:
In Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” the protagonist is a woman named Mathilde Loisel. Mathilde is a middle-class woman who dreams of a life of luxury and extravagance. When she is invited to a fancy ball, she borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend in order to fit in with the high society crowd. After the ball, she discovers that she has lost the necklace and spends years working to repay the debt she incurred in order to replace it. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and materialism, and Mathilde’s character serves as an example of how the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to ruin.