Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader I: Red and Black (English-Chinese Contrast)

Author: (French) Stendhal
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Plot Summary
The novel depicts the personal struggle and ultimate failure of the protagonist, Julien, particularly his two romantic experiences. Virey is a beautiful city in the Franche-Comté region of France. The story begins here. Julien, an ambitious man, is the son of a local farmer. Although he admires Napoleon in his heart, in the context of the restored monarchy, he believes that serving in the clergy is the only path to success for commoners. Therefore, he resolves to enter the church. Through hard work, despite his father, Father Sorel, doing everything in his power to obstruct and torment him, Julien acquires profound knowledge and extraordinary talents thanks to his inflated ambition and exceptional memory. The mayor of Virey, Monsieur de Rênal, learns of his intellect and hires him as a tutor for the children. During this time, he falls in love with the mayor's wife, Madame de Rênal, and uses her innocence and naivety to seduce her. As the two become consumed by passionate love, a jealous maid reveals their secret, and the news spreads throughout the city. Julien is forced to continue his studies at the Seminary of Besan?on. He excels and earns the favor of Father Pirard, the seminary director. Later, thanks to his strong recommendation, he is appointed as the private secretary of the prominent political figure, the Marquis de La Mole. The Marquis highly appreciates Julien's talents, places great trust in him, and assigns him a very important mission in Paris. The Marquis's daughter, Mathilde, who is extremely proud and arrogant, is deeply attracted to Julien, despite his humble origins and spirited character. After several emotional twists and turns, Julien finally wins Mathilde's heart. Meanwhile, she discovers that she is pregnant with Julien's child. She decides, despite her father's strong opposition, to marry Julien and eventually forces him to agree to the marriage. To preserve his reputation, the Marquis arranges for Julien to become a nobleman and appoints him as a lieutenant in the light cavalry. Just as Julien and Mathilde are enjoying their success, the Marquis receives a letter that slanders Julien, signed by Madame de Rênal. Julien sees his dream of happiness shatter in an instant and harbors resentment. He returns to Virey and shoots Madame de Rênal while she is praying in the church, and is immediately arrested. In prison, Julien sheds all his vulgar ambitions and rekindles his romance with the recovered Madame de Rênal. He deeply regrets his crime and decides to take his own life to atone for it. During his trial, he calmly declares, "I intended to murder, and according to the law, I deserve the death penalty." Then, as a commoner, he the reactionary upper class, represented by the judges and jury, for their oppression of the people. Julien is ultimately sentenced to death. After Julien's death, Mathilde holds his head and holds a grand funeral, while Madame de Rênal, cradling the child, passes away three days later!