It is Madame Loisel's desire to be part of the upper class which sets the story's events in motion. She is a beautiful woman who feels herself "born for every delicacy and luxury."

Before Madame Loisel borrowed the necklace, she struggled in life.  She "suffered incessantly" because she did not have riches and jewels. She felt she was born out of her class. She longed for the  the finer things in life. She did not appreciate what she had in life. She was beautiful. She had a maid. She was well taken care of by her husband. Still, she complained about not having adornment that would make her feel more beautiful. Madame Loisel was filled with pride. She felt she deserved to be rich. 

By the end of story, Mme. Loisel is a changed woman. She has learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. She is walking along the river, enjoying the simple things in life. Rather than sitting around sulking, she is out and about enjoying a refreshing walk along the river. She has grown as a character. She is redeemed from her prideful attitude. She now is finding herself content with what she has. While talking with Madame Forestier, she admits that paying for the replaced necklace has been a struggle, but now that it is all over, she finds herself content:

"And it has taken us ten years to pay for [the necklace]. You understand that it was not easy for us who have nothing. But it is finished and I am decently content."

No doubt, Mme Loisel has learned her lesson the hard way. She lost everything to find herself. She now has very little in terms of materialism, but she admits that she is "decently content" now. She has learned to be content with what she has. By the end of the story, she is saved from herself. Truly, Madame Loisel finds redemption from the straining cares of life.