Is Mathilde a sympathetic character? Can you identify with her? Do you care about her at the beginning, or at the end? Why or why not?

Initially Mathilde Loisel isn't a very sympathetic character. Her husband works hard to provide for the family even extending himself to give her some of the finer things in life (as much as he can). Mathilde is not satisfied, she would have preferred a husband with better prospects. Mathilde, not born into luxury, feels she is owed a life of luxury. She feels the life of a mere clerk's wife is beneath her. It is only later, after years of hard work, that we see Mathilde accept her reality and appreciate her life. You will have to consider if you identify with her or not.