The driving force behind the action is the scheming impostor Nebel, who fleeces the nouveau riche, especially Florian von Fett, formerly a master butcher, now a "partikulier" (private entrepreneur). Fett does not feel at home in the modern society to which he now belongs thanks to his wealth, and he covers up his insecurities with behavior that is sometimes naive, sometimes crude. The Marchese Vincelli embodies the parody of the ruined nobility, which has long since become unfit for life due to its excessive sensitivity, while the landlord of "Zum silbernen Rappen" is the cunning social climber of the people. A marriage-hungry old maid, an obediently curtsying daughter, and a snappy maid complete the panopticon of this cozy yet uncomfortable Biedermeier world.