Red and Black

Author: (French) Stendhal / Nan Jianchong annotation
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Red and the Black is a representative work of French critical realism literature in the 19th century. The protagonist of The Red and the Black, Julien, is the son of a carpenter in the small town of Verrières. Young, handsome, willful, and clever, he has always aspired to rise to the upper class through personal effort. After the restoration of the monarchy, Julien finds his path to success in the army blocked by the red uniform, so he decides to wear a black clerical uniform to climb the social ladder. Taking a position as a tutor in the mayor's household marks Julien's first step into society, where he harbors a desire for revenge against the mayor and an adventurous spirit to test his courage, leading to an ambiguous relationship with the mayor's wife. When the affair is exposed, Julien enters the Seminary of Besan?on and later follows Bishop Pirard to Paris, becoming the secretary of the Marquis de La Mole. Due to his intelligence and personality, he not only gains the Marquis's favor but also wins the heart of the Marquis's daughter. They secretly marry, and though the Marquis is furious about the marriage, he cannot do anything about it. As a result, Julien receives a knighthood, a lieutenant's rank, and an annual income of 26,000 francs from a manor. However, good fortune does not last. Just as Julien is on the verge of triumph, he falls into the trap set by the aristocracy and the clergy and is finally sent to the guillotine, becoming a victim of the ruling class's conspiracy.
Julien Sorel comes from a peasant family. He is physically frail but talented and ambitious. Julien realizes that only through the church can he enter high society. Due to his proficiency in Latin and the Bible, he is hired as the tutor for the children of the mayor of Verrières, De Rênal. During this time, he becomes the lover of De Rênal's wife. When the affair is exposed, he is forced to leave Verrières and go to the provincial city of Besan?on to study theology at the seminary. Later, recommended by Father Pirard, he goes to the Marquis's house to become the secretary of the Marquis de La Mole and becomes the lover of the Marquis's daughter, Mathilde. Just as he is about to marry the Marquis's daughter and dream of political success, a letter of betrayal from the mayor's wife shatters everything. In despair, he is sent to the guillotine, ending his short life.