The Necklace Important Characters

Mathilde Loisel - protagonist and wife of M. Loisel, attends the party wearing her friend Jeanne's necklace then loses it and spends ten years working to pay off the replacement jewelry

M. Loisel - Mathilde's husband, a clerk who gets an invitation to a fancy ball, works multiple jobs to pay for the replacement necklace

Jeanne Forestier - Mathilde's long time, wealthy friend who lets her borrow a diamond necklace to wear to the ball then is irritated when she returns it late, sees Mathilde again a decade later and is shocked by her haggard appearance