What is the supreme situational irony at the end of Guy de Maupassant's 'The Necklace'?
Options
Matilda spent ten years of her youth and beauty in extreme poverty to replace a necklace that was actually cheap imitation jewelry.
Madame Forestier had actually stolen the original necklace and used the Loisels' replacement to hide her crime.
Matilda became vastly wealthier than Madame Forestier after learning the value of hard work.
The lost necklace was found by the police just after the Loisels bought the expensive replacement.
Explanation
The correct option is 'Matilda spent ten years of her youth and beauty in extreme poverty to replace a necklace that was actually cheap imitation jewelry.' Situational irony occurs when the outcome of a situation is totally different from what is expected. The Loisels ruin their lives, lose their home, and age prematurely working to repay a debt of 36,000 francs for a genuine diamond necklace, only to learn from Madame Forestier at the very end that the original necklace was made of fake diamonds and worth at most 500 francs. The other options are incorrect as they are completely fabricated plot points not present in the text.