Final answer:
Visits to her rich friend affect Mathilde by making her envious and dissatisfied with her own life. Mathilde reacts the way she does out of a desire for material possessions and social validation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mathilde is affected by visits to her rich friend in several ways. Firstly, she becomes envious of her friend's wealth and luxurious lifestyle, which makes her dissatisfied with her own modest life. This dissatisfaction leads to a constant longing for material possessions and a desire to be part of the upper class. Secondly, Mathilde's visits to her rich friend also highlight her own insecurities and feelings of inferiority, as she becomes acutely aware of the stark differences between their social statuses.
Mathilde reacts the way she does due to a combination of envy, insecurity, and a strong desire for social validation. She yearns to be seen as wealthy and successful, and she believes that by associating with her rich friend, she can elevate her own social standing. Mathilde's reaction is also influenced by societal pressure and the belief that material possessions are a measure of one's worth and happiness.