Ang Kuwintas | The Necklace Story | @FilipinoFairyTales

Summary

The story revolves around Matilda, a woman dissatisfied with her simple life despite her beauty. She yearns for luxury and is invited to a high-society event. Matilda borrows a diamond necklace from her friend, Jean, to fit in. After the event, she loses the necklace and, in a desperate attempt to replace it, plunges into debt. The couple works tirelessly to repay the loan, sacrificing their comfort and happiness. In the end, they learn the necklace was a cheap imitation, highlighting the futility of their struggles and the lesson of contentment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Matilda is a woman who is discontent with her simple life and desires more luxury and wealth.
• 🏠 Matilda is married to Victor, a clerk who works at the Ministry of Education and earns a modest income.
• 🎉 Matilda receives an invitation to a grand ball hosted by the Minister, which she sees as an opportunity to elevate her social standing.
• 👗 Matilda is upset that she does not have a suitable dress or jewelry for the ball, as she feels her current possessions are not luxurious enough.
• 💸 Victor offers to buy her a new dress, but Matilda laments that she also lacks the appropriate jewelry to wear to the event.
• 💍 Matilda's friend Jean lends her a beautiful necklace, which she believes will make her stand out at the ball.
• 🚗 On the night of the ball, Matilda and Victor attend the event, but on their way home, Matilda realizes she has lost the borrowed necklace.
• 😢 The couple desperately searches for the necklace to no avail, and they are forced to buy a replacement, which costs them 40,000 francs.
• 💼 The loss of the necklace leads to financial hardship for Matilda and Victor, who have to work extra jobs and move to a smaller apartment.
• 🌹 Years later, Matilda encounters Jean again and learns that the necklace she lost was actually a fake, worth only 200 francs.

Q & A

Who is Matilda, and what is her main concern at the beginning of the story?

Matilda is a woman who is very concerned about her appearance and the lack of luxury items she possesses. She constantly worries that she doesn't have the beautiful clothes and jewelry that other women have.

What does Matilda's husband, Victor, do for a living, and how does he try to help Matilda with her concerns?

Victor is a clerk who works at the Ministry of Education. Despite their limited income, he tries to help Matilda by giving her the money he had saved for a fishing trip so that she can buy a new dress for a formal event.

Why is Matilda still unhappy after buying a new dress for the party?

Matilda is unhappy because she doesn't have any jewelry to wear with her new dress. She feels that without a proper necklace, she cannot attend the event in confidence.

How does Matilda acquire a necklace for the party?

Matilda borrows a necklace from her wealthy friend, Jean. Jean generously lets her choose from her collection, and Matilda selects a beautiful necklace that she admires greatly.

How does Matilda feel during the party, and what happens afterwards?

During the party, Matilda feels elated and confident. She enjoys herself, catching the attention of important people, including the Minister. However, after the party, she realizes that she has lost the necklace she borrowed.

What steps do Matilda and Victor take after discovering the necklace is missing?

Victor searches the streets and contacts the police and taxi drivers to find the missing necklace, but to no avail. Matilda writes to Jean, telling her that the necklace's clasp is broken to buy time. Eventually, they decide to replace the necklace by buying a similar one for 40,000 francs.

How do Matilda and Victor pay for the replacement necklace?

Victor and Matilda borrow money from friends, relatives, and lenders. They spend the next ten years working hard to repay the debt incurred from purchasing the expensive replacement necklace.

How does Matilda's life change after they purchase the replacement necklace?

Matilda and Victor's life becomes difficult as they must live in poverty to pay off the debt. Matilda loses her beauty and becomes aged and worn out from years of hard work.

What shocking revelation does Matilda discover at the end of the story?

Matilda learns from Jean that the original necklace she borrowed was not made of real diamonds but was an inexpensive imitation worth only 200 francs. Matilda and Victor had sacrificed their lives for a worthless item.

What lesson does Matilda learn from her experience?

Matilda learns the importance of contentment and appreciating what she has. Her desire for luxury led her to unnecessary suffering, and she realizes too late that she already had a loving husband and a decent life.