Bureaucracy explores the struggles and ambitions of a civil servant in post-revolutionary France, focusing on the complexities of government work and personal aspirations. The protagonist, driven by a desire to reform the administrative system, faces the challenges of his professional life while dealing with tensions in his marriage. His wife, feeling constrained by their life and society's expectations, seeks independence and personal fulfillment. The novel examines the difficulties of implementing change within an inefficient bureaucratic system, highlighting the clash between personal ambition and the realities of institutional inertia. As the characters navigate their desires for progress and personal fulfillment, the narrative sheds light on the broader social and political dynamics of 19th-century France. The interplay between individual aspirations and societal constraints drives the story, illustrating the tension between reform and the status quo in a changing world.