The short story, The Necklace, by Guy De Maupassant, teaches a valuable lesson, which is apparent in the theme, through the plot and its characters. Most people, who believe to have misfortune, often look at others as "having it all." The idea that others have it all, and are more fortunate than one self, is demonstrated in this story. The characters M. and Mme. Loisel, are a middle-class couple in the late 19th century, in Paris, France. M. Loisel is a clerk at the Ministry of Public Instructions. Mme. Loisel is a very unhappy wife, bothered by the fact that her husband does not have the funds for luxuries such as fancy curtains, rugs, furniture, and jewels. "She suffered incessantly when she glanced around her humble home and felt the absence of all those delicacies and luxuries which are enjoyed only by the rich" (59). When the couple is invited to a very prestigious party at the palace, Mme. Loisel does not receive the invitation with contentment; instead, she gets upset because she does not have a dress or acceptable jewelry to wear. M. Loisel provides all the means necessary for his wife to buy a decent dress and convinces her to ask a friend, Mme. Forestier, for jewels. She borrows a beautiful necklace from her generous friend.
             The necklace is stunning to Mme. Loisel. "...a superb necklace of diamonds, and her heart began to beat with an immoderate desire. Her hands trembled as she took it. She fastened it around her throat, outside her high necked dress, and remained lost in ecstasy at the sight of herself"(61). She makes quite an impression at the palace, but the joy does not last for much longer. At the end of the night, Mme. Loisel realizes the diamond necklace is missing. The couple searches everywhere, but finally gives in to purchasing a new one, worth 36 thousand francs. The Loisel's do not have the means to pay this amount of money, so they have to borrow as much as possible. The necklace took the Loisel's about ten ...