Père Goriot is the tragic story of a father whose obsessive love for his two daughters leads to his financial and personal ruin. Interwoven with this theme is that of the impoverished young aristocrat, Rastignac, who came to Paris from the provinces to hopefully make his fortune. He befriends Goriot and becomes involved with the daughters. The story is set against the background of a whole society driven by social ambition and lust for wealth. 

It is a bleak picture that the author paints-- one where money, social status, fancy clothes and upper-class balls have become far more important than love and kindness. Expect misery from start to finish, and one instance of particularly revolting racism.