Marcel is a young man who is fascinated by the Guermantes family, one of the most prestigious families in Parisian high society. He dreams of being accepted by them, and he begins to frequent their salons and parties. However, Marcel soon realizes that the world of the Guermantes is not what he expected. They are a superficial and frivolous bunch, and Marcel begins to question his own values. As Marcel's relationship with the Guermantes family becomes more complicated, he is forced to confront his own past and to reevaluate his identity. He comes to realize that his true place is not in the world of high society, but in the world of artists and intellectuals.