Character Analysis - The New Dress

I find Mabel in The New Dress by Virginia Woolf paradoxical. She portrays severe insecurity and a lack of self-esteem while at the same time a healthy and objective sense of self, causing her to try and surpass her limitations.
The fact that Mabel's enjoyment in society is directly related to how same society perceives her, points to a lack of confidence. Not secure that the crowd at the party isn't snickering about her dress, Mabel can barely tolerate her short stay and lea...