Social Status

Aristocracy and social status plays a major part in this novel. The narrator is preoccupied with the aristocracy that he knows, and longs to expand his acquaintance in the aristocracy. Even as a child at Combray, he daydreams about being accepted by the Guermantes. Mme. de Villeparisis becomes more interesting to him when he learns of her association with the Guermantes. The narrator longs to be friends with Marquise Robert de Saint-Loup because not only is he a marquis, he is related to the Guermantes as well. He is in love with Mme. de Guermantes primarily because of her name.

Other characters who are obsessed with social status like the narrator are M. Legrandin, the Guermantes, and the Verdurins. Also, Dr. Cottard is impressed when he first meets M. Swann because of M. Swann's friend in high society. The younger M. Swann is not at all interested...