Cabiria as a (Mostly) Flat Character

Throughout the film Nights of Cabiria, the main character Cabiria faces many obstacles, events, and clashing personalities. While she faces much conflict it appears that Cabiria has the desire to evolve and develop as a character, but she remains relatively flat during the entire film until the absolute final seconds of the film when we are able to interpret a change in character.  Some may assume she makes a change, others may assume she does not, but through virtually 99% of the film, Cabiria is seen in one light:

Cabiria is portrayed as a very naive, immature, and impressionable.  She is often seen making impulse decisions from the very beginning of the film. (As she throws nice suits into the fire after being pushed in the river)

She often acts very loud and rash.  

Finally, she often becomes engulfed in her possessions and how people perceive her possessions.

These actions and motivations are what drive the entire film.  It is almost comical how Cabiria constantly faces virtually the same issues but time after time she wanders back into the same traps. 

Cabiria does face some instances when we finally believe she is making a change.  As Cabiria makes her pilgrimage, she proclaims multiple times "Viva Maria!" as tears fill her eyes.  She asks for mercy and kisses the ground, and we perceive a feeling of true desire for change. Not only do we see the desire for change, but the desire for change seems to come from a very legitimate source, and we have hope (after all Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and she ended up alright).

Just as our hopes are about to be fulfilled that Cabiria is a changed woman, she reverts back to her old ways as she gets violently drunk and begins cursing nuns and religion. While Plate may not give us a solid definition of blasphemy, Cabiria provides us with an almost blasphemous change in position from her emotional display before.  Was this display truly heartfelt, or was she acting out of selfish, blasphemous pride.

As Cabiria is finally doped by Oscar, and we believe she is about to be killed, the film seems to draw to an end with the same old Cabiria now stuck with only her selfish pride.  As she walks down the street, she seems truly beaten by life, and we believe we will leave the film watching this poor, stupid, and stubborn woman walk into a new world of nothing, surely to fall again for the same sick tricks she has fallen for before.

And then this image hits us moments before the film ends.  In these final few seconds, Cabiria looks into our eyes, assuring us that she not only understands that her life will go on, but we can also decide for ourselves whether or not we believe she will make a change in her ways, beliefs, and motivations.  How can that face say anything else?