The associations that Mathilda makes with people are one of the main sources that shape her destiny. Matilda clearly associates her family with being poor and worthless. She dreads daily dinner with her husband; mocking his house, the mediocre meal, the clear normality of their lives. She considers herself too tall, too pretty to be in the house of a humble clerk. Mathilda associates her husband with the essence of lower life because he does not earn much money to satisfy his inner desires. This being the case, Mathilda associates her friend Madame Forestier as best she can. Forestier is the lady that Mathilda would like to be, beautiful and rich. By befriending Madame Forestier, Mathilda thinks she can get closer to becoming a lady of stature, grace, and wealth. Madame Forestier has boxes and boxes of jewels and that's where Mathilda gets the necklace. Although Mathilda sees Madame Forestier as the key to evolution, in reality Madame Forestier can do little to help her. Little Madame Forestier lent a necklace, she has no power over Mathilda's life, only Mathilda has it. Mathilda has a similar view about going to the dance. Mathilda refuses to go to the ball without her dress and necklace because she thinks all the other women will have these things. There would only be shame on Mathilda's name if she participated