Mme Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful but discontented woman born into a modest family who dreams of wealth, glamour and social prestige, a life she believes she was meant for but cannot afford on the salary of her husband, a clerk at the Ministry of Education.

She rejects her husband's idea of wearing fresh flowers, but takes up his suggestion of borrowing jewellery from her wealthy friend, Mme Forestier.

To repay the debt, the Loisels dismiss their maid, move into a small, shabby apartment, and take on long hours of gruelling work.

Feeling confident enough now to confess, Mathilde tells Mme Forestier the truth about losing the necklace, replacing it, and about the hard times she has endured.

A horrified Mme Forestier reveals that the necklace she had lent to Mathilde was not made of real diamonds, and was worth no more than five hundred francs.