I've got a lot in common with the protagonist of The Fall. He confesses to being a vain man, and that confession is one I think I should make. He also possesses a sensitive ego, as the three episodes which lead to his undoing show. All of them are pretty insignificant, but due to his delicate and easily bruised ego, they have more serious consequences than you would expect.
Now, I cannot say that I've been undone to the degree that Clamence seems to have been undone. However, I can think of a few times I have made similar social missteps. There was a time I told a girl her makeup reminded me of Night of the Living Dead. If you aren't at a Halloween costume party, I don't recommend making that observation. When the affects of my careless statement had been made known to me, I was beside myself. I had not had the intention of being hurtful, it was merely an accurate observation. However, I did not feel like the fabric of my reality was coming undone, I simply apologized and admitted to being an ass. Perhaps what Clamence lacked was the ability to laugh at himself, or as I've implied, someone to laugh with, about himself.
