Petty Annoyances of Married life

"Reveals what happens when the 'high-tide of the honeymoon' goes out for good. Balzac's analysis of a relationship degenerating into mutual envy and emotional manipulation takes the form of a series of vignettes reminiscent of Daumier cartoons (especially a wretched outing to the country with ungrateful child and gloating mother-in-law) and is notable for its lack of practical solutions. This, the modern romantic was saying, is what modern marriage treated as 'a good business deal' really is..." (Robb, 362) (Petites Miseres de la vie conjugale)