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The first story of the "Scenes from Private Life" section of Balzac's Human Comedy, At the Sign of the Cat and Racket examines the class, social, and economic divisions of 19th century France through the love story of a famous artist and the working class daughter of a drapery shop owner. Great attention is paid to the details of how these worlds interact and overlap. The cultural examination also delves into the "battle of the sexes" through the different marriages and relationships - all with their own flaws and highlights - between the characters in the story. Balzac's approach to the concept of love is complex and unflattering, providing a sober appraisal of typically romanticized situations.