I agree that Madame Loisel’s efforts to pay off her debts are heroic. The protagonist of The Necklace undergoes significant changes. She goes from an extravagant and mean woman to a hardworking and humble person.
Detailed answer:
The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant. The main character is a working-class woman who believes that she belongs to the aristocracy. Despite her dreams of having a rich and noble husband, she married a humble but devoted clerk. He loves her dearly and supports his wife’s obsession with luxurious items. One day Madame Loisel and her spouse receive an invitation to a formal party. The event becomes the beginning of Mathilde’s downfall.
The woman asks a friend to lend her an expensive diamond necklace to wear for the party. Loisel loses the treasure and tries to find a replacement. She urges her husband to use his inheritance and borrow eighteen thousand francs to buy a similar necklace. The family becomes poor because of the debt, so Loisel learns to do housework and cook. Busy with her daily tasks, she stops noticing her simple clothing and plain interiors of the small apartment.
The woman stops judging other people based on their appearance. She also accepts her current situation with courage. When she meets her affluent friend, she tells her the truth about the necklace she lost. Turns out the piece of jewelry was fake, but the experience Mathilde gained was priceless.
So, the story is about the heroic stance of Madame Loisel against the unfortunate state. It teaches the readers moral lessons on humility and moderation.