The mood of the story ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant can be described as somber and reflective. Throughout the narrative, there is a prevailing sense of disappointment and regret, particularly experienced by the main character, Mathilde Loisel.
Mathilde, who is unhappy with her modest life, yearns for luxury and wealth. Her desire to appear affluent leads her to borrow a necklace to wear at a high-society event, but when she loses it, her life takes a turn for the worse. The subsequent struggle to replace the necklace and the years of hardship that follow contribute to a mood of despair. As the story progresses, this mood transforms into one of bitter irony when Mathilde learns the truth about the necklace.
Overall, the mood highlights the themes of vanity, pride, and the harsh realities of life, making readers reflect on the costs of materialism and the unpredictability of fate.