The Red and the Black - Stendhal

In the novel *The Red and the Black*The protagonist, Julien, is a handsome young man who also wants to change his destiny. He puts in immense effort to achieve a social breakthrough, to rise above his station. But once he succeeds, he can never return to a normal life again. He finds himself unable to accept a life of mediocrity, and this struggle ultimately costs him his life.

Born in 1783 in Grenoble, France, Stendhal grew up during the French bourgeois revolution and was particularly fascinated by Napoleon. In 1817, he published his debut work, *History of Italian Painting*, and set out to be an “observer of the human soul.” Known for his precise psychological analysis and concise writing style, he has been hailed as the “father of the modern novel.”

Transcript

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When you dive into *The Red and the Black*, you’ll understand what hardships a handsome but poor man might face in this world, why this book wasn’t accepted in Stendhal’s time. Human nature is complex, and it may take a lifetime to truly understand it.

When reading this classic, beyond the plot, what should we pay attention to? For me, the most compelling aspect is Julien’s character and how it ultimately shapes his destiny. Perhaps every person is a mix of complexities: 0:30

Julien is both refined and vulgar; he craves love but is also driven by ambition and desire. This constant struggle of conflicting forces propels him forward, step by step, making *The Red and the Black* a novel full of tension and drama. Now, let’s begin our discussion of *The Red and the Black*. The story takes place in 19th-century France. Julien, the protagonist, was the youngest son of a sawmill owner. Even as an infant, his father had little regard for him, thinking that Julien’s frail health meant he wouldn’t live long and would only become a burden to the family. As he grew up, Julien indeed turned out to be thin and weak, incapable of doing any heavy labor. In his family, which consisted of manual laborers, this made him an outsider. You can imagine how, in a rural environment where physical labor is valued, someone who can’t farm or isn’t particularly hard working would be viewed. Julien’s father and two brothers were illiterate and worked as carpenters for a living. They despised Julien, who felt suffocated in this environment. He had no desire to follow in their footsteps. His dream life? To wear fine clothes, ride a majestic white horse, and be respected like a nobleman. But how could a handsome, poor young man change his fate? Julien chose to read. Even when sitting beside the roaring machinery, he buried himself in his books, completely forgetting his duty to watch over the machines. He couldn’t hear his father calling him repeatedly, which infuriated his father even more, convincing him that Julien was worthless. His father believed that reading was utterly useless, merely an excuse for Julien to shirk work. To him, Julien was a lazy burden who ate the family’s food without contributing a single penny. Due to his family’s harsh treatment, Julien’s social status was naturally very low. The townspeople also saw him as weak and a failure. Despite growing up in such an environment, Julien never considered himself a weakling. Deep down, he firmly believed that he could rise above everyone, become someone of significance, and earn everyone’s respect. In other words, Julien’s ambition was fueled by countless negative emotions from the very beginning, leading him to display traits of cruelty and greed when he couldn’t manage these feelings.

For someone like Julien, you could say his ambition is his life force. Yet, that very ambition also leads him down a path of manipulation and deceit. In France at that time, young people had only two paths for upward mobility: 3:12

joining the military or entering the church. Education was a way to connect with the aristocracy, but the chances for young people to advance are actually very limited. Most people were born to chop wood and would spend their entire lives doing just that. Julien, however, was clearly not content to be trapped in such a fate. He actively pursued opportunities to join the church, hoping to become a bishop draped in black robes, thus achieving the highest level of prestige. To win over his old teacher, as well as curry favor with his superiors, influential classmates, and teachers who could advance his career, Julien leveraged his exceptional memory and talent for Latin, memorizing the entire Bible and the New Testament by heart.

One day, during a public appearance in town, he recited the entire Bible from memory, making him an instant sensation. At that time, Latin was considered a prestigious language known by very few. But it wasn’t just about talent; there’s another word for it: 4:10

effort. Someone with extraordinary talent who also works incredibly hard is bound to attract the favor of destiny. After this impressive public display, Monsieur de Rênal, the mayor, took notice of Julien and hired him as a tutor for his family, offering a salary of 300 francs per year, along with room, board, and clothing. To put this into perspective, 300 francs was the income of a middle-class family at the time—an amount that Julien’s father and brothers couldn’t hope to earn no matter how hard they worked. You can imagine how proud Julien must have felt. He had finally taken a step toward becoming a respectable person. No longer did he need to perform backbreaking labor; he could now enjoy a comfortable life, free from want. He could crush the shame his father inflicted on him under his feet. Indeed, Julien became the object of everyone’s envy, now part of the mayor’s household. Yet, the influence of one’s upbringing often leaves indelible marks on their personality. Having been beaten and scolded by his father and brothers, Julien retained a side of him that was fragile. When he first stood at the mayor’s doorstep, he was so scared that he didn’t even have the courage to ring the doorbell. He was so terrified that he nearly turned and fled.

At that moment, it was again books and the heroes within them that gave Julien strength. He recalled a quote from Napoleon: 5:45

“Weakness is a crime. Life is a struggle. You either live a miserable life in contempt or die fighting for wealth, status, and honor.” Julien was a well-read young man, and reading had brought about many changes in his life. Steeling himself, Julien mustered the courage to walk into the mayor’s house—his first step toward changing his destiny. But this wasn’t the first time Julien had fought against his own fragility. He was acutely aware of his shortcomings. Despite the risk of being beaten and cursed by his father, he resolutely followed his old teacher to study Latin. Through relentless hard work, he mastered knowledge far beyond his social class, ultimately reversing his fate. When Julien first arrived at the mayor’s house, he still faced many challenges, surrounded by suspicion and distrust, especially from the beautiful lady of the house, Madame de Rênal. She constantly questioned whether this timid young man, who seemed almost as shy as a young girl, was truly as knowledgeable as people claimed. In Madame de Rênal’s view, many private tutors were frauds who bullied the children and were generally coarse and unrefined. But how did the mayor view Julien? In reality, the mayor did not genuinely respect Julien or his knowledge. He treated Julien, the only person in town who could recite the entire Bible in Latin, as a luxury item, a prestigious decoration to show off. It was like saying, “Look, we have such a talented person in our household.” When the mayor spoke to Julien, it was always with an air of superiority and condescension. However, Julien was an extremely sensitive young man with a strong sense of pride. Feeling deeply insulted, he decided to prove his worth. One day, when the entire household was present, he took out a Latin Bible and told everyone that they could open it to any page and start reading from any passage. As soon as they said the first word, he would be able to continue reciting, without stopping, until they told him to. His incredible memory and knowledge amazed everyone. That very night, the entire town wanted to witness Julien’s extraordinary display of talent. In front of everyone, Julien showcased his exceptional abilities, earning him the title of “Monsieur,” a sign of respect. His reputation quickly spread throughout the town. You see, this is the influence of being associated with the mayor’s household. So, would Julien’s situation improve from here? Within just a month of arriving at the mayor’s house, everyone treated him with the utmost respect, and he became a local celebrity. The mayor’s three children were also in awe of him, practically worshiping him. Yet, this is where Julien’s façade began to crack. He had no love for children, no interest in teaching, and his mind was always elsewhere. But, because they were the mayor’s children, no matter how mischievous they were, Julien never showed any impatience. He remained indifferent, detached, and seemingly fair—but in truth, he simply didn’t care about them. There’s another, deeper contradiction in Julien’s behavior. As a tutor, he performed his duties well enough. Yet deep down, he harbored nothing but hatred and contempt for the upper-class society he found himself in. He couldn’t show this, of course. Why did he feel this way? Every time there was a gathering of guests, Julien would be brought out as a sort of “showpiece” to be introduced. But his status was always lower than everyone else’s, and he was relegated to the sidelines. This deeply wounded his pride. Julien had always been insecure and could never overcome this inferiority complex. Instead, it led to a kind of psychological distortion. This inner turmoil reveals the core of Julien’s struggle. His ambition and intelligence drive him to rise above his station, but his pride and insecurity make him despise the very society he wishes to join. It’s a paradox that makes him both determined and self-destructive, a character constantly at war with himself. Living in the mayor’s house, Julien experienced firsthand the opulence of high society, and his inner desires began to swell. He was no longer content with his current social position, no longer satisfied with being just a tutor. He yearned for an opportunity to rise swiftly and be on equal footing with the people of high society. So, he decided to take a shortcut. And what was his shortcut? His eyes fell on one person—Madame de Rênal. So what exactly did Julien want?

There’s a telling detail in the novel: 10:33

when Julien received the offer to become a tutor, his father immediately asked about the salary, concerned with how much money Julien could bring home. But Julien wasn’t interested in money; he cared more about whether he would have to dine with the servants. To Julien, eating at the same table as the servants meant his status was equal to theirs, and no amount of money could make that acceptable. So what did Julien really want? He desired a ticket into high society. But how could he obtain such a ticket? In that society, it was mostly inherited—if you were born into a noble family, you were a noble. So what could an ordinary person like Julien do? He decided that he needed to win Madame de Rênal’s heart. In Julien’s eyes, this was the quickest way to elevate himself, to cross the invisible yet rigid boundaries of class and status. It was not just about love or desire; it was about strategic calculation, a way to propel himself into a world that otherwise would have remained forever beyond his reach. So, what kind of woman was Madame de Rênal? Before Julien’s arrival, she led a typical life for an aristocratic woman. She spent her youth in a convent and then married a socially equal husband with a considerable dowry. Her husband was the mayor, and she bore him three children. Beyond caring for her children, her remaining time was spent praying, as she had little else to occupy herself with. And what about her relationship with the mayor? Stendhal writes that she had never experienced anything even remotely resembling love. This indicates that, in aristocratic families of the time, many marriages were arranged for status, not affection. Despite being a mother of three, Madame de Rênal was still inexperienced, a blank slate in terms of life experience. She was very beautiful, with a graceful and delicate figure. According to local standards, she was a true beauty. Her innocence gave her a natural, unspoiled charm. She moved with the lightness of a young girl, brimming with vitality and purity. However, she herself had never tasted romance, which set the stage for what was to come. When they first met, Julien boldly took Madame de Rênal’s hand and brought it to his lips. You might say that hand-kissing is a common gesture in many movies and historical depictions of France. But it wasn’t so simple in this context. Where did this hand-kiss happen? It was during a walk in the garden when Julien secretly kissed her hand. This wasn’t in a public social setting but on a secluded garden path, introducing a hint of intimacy and ambiguity. This was Julien’s way of testing the waters. After numerous such attempts, Julien realized he had won Madame de Rênal’s unusual affection. One night, he boldly broke into her bedroom. This was a daring move. When I first read it, I could hardly believe that the same Julien who had been too timid to ring the doorbell would do something so audacious. But blinded by desire and ambition, people can indeed be driven to actions they themselves would never have imagined. Julien knelt before Madame de Rênal, whispering passionate and tender words of love, expressing his admiration and affection. And Madame de Rênal? She was utterly captivated, for she had never experienced love before. She had never been in love; she had merely gotten married and become a mother and a wife. This time, she was completely overcome—perhaps even blinded—by Julien’s intense love. She forgot her own status and willingly fell into the trap of this romance, pouring all her sympathy, admiration, and love into this young man. They spent a sweet night together. Neither Julien nor Madame de Rênal realized they were stepping closer and closer to the abyss. That night, Madame de Rênal was lost in the bliss of love, feeling so joyful that she could hardly sleep. She began to think about Julien constantly. Madame de Rênal realized that Julien’s boldness was a genuine, uncontrollable passion. She believed this was true love. As a married woman, she could no longer control herself and fell deeper and deeper into the web of love. This was a kind of passion she had never experienced with her husband. Even the kisses she shared with Julien were unlike anything she had known before. Madame de Rênal felt that before meeting Julien, she had never truly lived. Of course, this happiness he brought her made her feel immense pain. She was tormented and anxious. To soothe her fears, Julien confessed his love even more ardently. “I really should leave. I must go, but I love you madly. This is, of course, wrong—especially for a young clergyman—it’s the gravest of sins.” Julien’s words were a calculated tactic, pretending to retreat in order to advance. Hearing him say he was leaving, Madame de Rênal felt she could not bear the thought of losing her lover. This young man loved her so deeply that he was nearly beside himself. How could she push him away now? If she did, she would feel terribly sorry for him. So, Madame de Rênal resolutely threw herself into Julien’s arms. What started as a scheme for Julien had now turned into true feelings for Madame de Rênal, who gave her heart without reservation. Julien began to fall step by step into the very trap he had set. How could he not feel anything for such a lovable, beautiful person who genuinely cared for him? Julien’s heart, too, was truly moved. These two people, Julien and Madame de Rênal, share similarities. Neither had truly experienced romantic love before. In a sense, this was their first love, and they stumbled into it, driven by a surge of passion. One of them, Madame de Rênal, had long been a mother, but emotionally she was like a young girl awakening to love for the first time. Julien, on the other hand, was unsure what he truly wanted or needed. He couldn’t distinguish between whether this was part of his scheme or genuine affection. Just as their passion reached its peak, a crucial event unfolded in the first volume of *The Red and the Black*. The small town of Verrières was about to receive an important guest—none other than the king himself. How did this connect to Julien and Madame de Rênal? Let’s continue. Stendhal writes that the powerful figures in town, upon hearing the news, all scrambled to be part of this grand occasion, hoping to elevate their social standing. Madame de Rênal, like a love-struck girl, went to great lengths to ensure her beloved Julien would be part of the honor guard. She even maneuvered to push aside the sons of wealthy families so that her dear Julien could don a military uniform and stand out. She did this just to catch a glimpse of her lover’s dashing figure in uniform. This move, of course, sparked speculation and anger. The nobles thought, “Julien, you’re just the son of a carpenter. How dare you stand shoulder to shoulder with those of noble birth?” But Julien, at that moment, felt like the happiest man in the world. Julien’s posture on horseback was more elegant than that of most young men in the mountain town. Was this because he was naturally brave? No, it was because his ambition was even greater. He had a burning desire to change his destiny. As he rode through the town, he could see from the ladies’ glances that everyone was talking about him. He had become the center of attention. Julien felt immensely proud. Then, something happened that struck Julien even more deeply. The bishop presiding over this ceremonial event was surprisingly young, only six or seven years older than Julien. Why was that? In Julien’s view, it was simply because he was an aristocrat, the nephew of a marquis, which allowed him to attain such a high position at such a young age. This realization fueled Julien’s ambition even further. As he experienced more of the world, his desires became increasingly difficult to contain. After the grand spectacle of riding in the honor guard, Julien was effectively initiated into high society. The immediate result was that he received four or five invitations from powerful families, asking him to visit their homes. He attended several banquets, and he was no longer just a mere tutor; he had become a fashionable figure. But such glory did not last long. The more you gain, the more eyes are on you. Monsieur de Rênal received an anonymous letter accusing his wife of having an affair with their tutor. The scandal broke, and Julien lost his position as a tutor. His relationship with Madame de Rênal became the talk of the town, a sensational scandal.

At this moment, what was Julien most concerned about? His reputation. He made a decisive choice: 19:43

to abandon Madame de Rênal and flee. The best solution was to escape. He left the town and went to Paris to continue his studies at a seminary. In those days, news did not spread as rapidly as it does now. So, in a sense, he severed himself completely from the scandal, leaving it behind him. What remained? A shattered mess and the other party in this affair—his lover, Madame de Rênal. This, of course, was incredibly cruel. Up to this point, the first part of *The Red and the Black* had come to an end. Julien had left the small town, marking a turning point in the story. Now, he was entering a new world, a new chapter in his life. Would he achieve great things? Through introductions, he became the secretary of the marquis. In Julien’s own words, he was finally about to appear on the stage of great events. Meanwhile, the abandoned Madame de Rênal, who had given all her passion, love, and sincerity, fell into a bottomless abyss of despair. One can imagine how hopeless and painful her fate must have been. Madame de Rênal’s suffering also foreshadowed the troubles that lay ahead for Julien’s future. When Julien arrived in Paris and began his studies at the seminary, he was armed with exceptional talent, a handsome appearance, and the polished demeanor he had developed during his time in the mayor’s household. He became an idol to some of his peers and a target of envy and resentment to others, facing exclusion and hostility. By now, however, Julien had matured far beyond the impulsive son of a small-town carpenter. He restrained his youthful arrogance and ambition, adopting a low profile. Even when he received unfair grades, he remained silent and did not complain. Was this because he had decided to turn over a new leaf and reinvent himself? No, he was merely biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity—this was the patience of a deeply ambitious person. One day, Julien had the chance to meet the bishop. Seizing the moment, he boldly and eloquently engaged the bishop, who was a lover of literature, in conversation, and even recited entire poems that the bishop himself could not remember. The bishop was so impressed that he considered Julien a brilliant talent and gifted him a set of exquisitely bound books. Once people learned of this, they all scrambled to congratulate Julien. From then on, no one dared to trouble him again. Was this just luck for Julien? Of course not. This was the result of meticulous planning. He had thoroughly researched the bishop’s personality, preferences, and what might win his favor, carefully orchestrating the encounter. Although the set of books the bishop gave him wasn’t of immense monetary value, it symbolized status. It was a ticket to higher social circles, marking the bishop as his powerful patron. As one of the top students among the 300 at the seminary, Julien was recommended by the director to the Marquis de la Mole upon graduation. Julien won the Marquis’s approval and became his secretary, again thanks to his extraordinary memory. Julien meticulously recorded the entire proceedings of a secret meeting, which impressed the Marquis greatly, securing Julien’s position and favor. What did Julien do each day? He copied manuscripts and official documents for the Marquis, completing every task with meticulous perfection. This earned him increasing favor from the Marquis, who then appointed Julien as the manager of one of his estates and even entrusted him with handling important political documents. The Marquis eventually sent him to London for diplomatic work, where Julien earned a medal of honor. Julien always seized every opportunity that fate presented, demonstrating a fierce determination. He diligently practiced the refined accent and mannerisms of the aristocracy, afraid that any trace of his rough background would betray him. However, Julien was still poor. With nothing to his name, he risked being looked down upon. So, he worked tirelessly to improve his abilities, striving to become indispensable to the Marquis, seeking a sense of security. In his fierce determination to transform himself, Julien quickly mastered the various arts of Parisian high society. He learned fencing, dueling, dancing, social etiquette, and even how to drink, dress, and behave with sophistication. He was like a king entering his own battlefield. At this point, Julien could have lived the life he desired, relying on his true talents and knowledge. But his ambitions had swelled; he could no longer tolerate the current pace of his rise. He wanted more—more fame, more fortune, and at a faster rate. What could he do to achieve this? He decided to employ the same old tricks and take shortcuts once again. This time, Julien set his sights on the Marquis de la Mole’s daughter, Mademoiselle Mathilde. She was a young woman with the noble demeanor of an aristocrat and the chivalrous spirit of a medieval knight. Her privileged birth granted her many advantages and wealth, which she, ironically, found unimportant. Mathilde was passionate, brave, and even somewhat tomboyish. She was tired of the dullness and mediocrity around her and despised the fawning young noblemen who tried to court her with empty flattery. What did she want? A love that was different, something unique and exceptional. Mathilde longed for a love like that of her 16th-century noble ancestors, a love that was scandalous and defied all conventions. She even desired a relationship so intense and resolute that it would break all ties with the world. It was a romantic ideal, but it also showed that she was overly immersed in literature and fantasy, believing herself to be the heroine of a legendary tale. But Mathilde was too young to understand the price she would have to pay for this dream. And it was at this moment that Julien entered her life. At first, this arrogant and beautiful Mademoiselle Mathilde was not interested in Julien at all. Julien quickly realized he was approaching her in the wrong way. When seducing Madame de Rênal, he had used tenderness and sensitivity because Madame de Rênal was gentle and naive. But Mathilde did not care for tenderness and sensitivity. She was surrounded by too many people like that. This approach was completely ineffective. So, Julien changed his strategy. He began to act aloof and domineering, displaying the confidence of a “bad boy.” The more assertive and rebellious he appeared, the more he piqued Mathilde’s curiosity. Soon, Mathilde’s interest in Julien overcame her pride. For the first time in her life, this usually indifferent girl felt the thrill of passionate desire. Caught in Julien’s game of push and pull, she gradually succumbed. On a bright, moonlit night, Julien climbed a ladder to Mathilde’s room, and that night, she could no longer resist the wild intensity of their relationship and surrendered herself to him. Afterward, however, Mathilde quickly regretted it. She said to Julien, “I can’t believe I lowered myself to someone like you. I hate myself for it.” What she meant was that she realized Julien was not as noble, unique, or special as he had seemed. It was all an act. Beneath it, he was still just an ordinary person. But what could she do? Enraged, Julien blurted out that he would not tolerate being insulted like some nobody. He was so furious that he lunged for a medieval sword, an antique that hung in the library. Julien felt utterly humiliated—this was the sorest wound anyone could touch. Yes, he was just the son of a carpenter. The aristocracy always regarded people of his class as nobodies. So, he took down the sword, intending to kill Mathilde. At that moment, Mathilde’s eyes lit up. She thought, “My God, this young man loves me so much that he wants to kill me.” This sudden burst of passion, savagery and irrational, yet how perfectly fitting for her character. Immediately, Mathilde was drawn back to Julien and they reconciled once more. Julien climbed into Mathilde’s room again on another night, and this time, Mathilde completely submitted to him. She begged Julien, “Be my master.” But whenever Julien showed any tenderness or affection, Mathilde would become angry again, openly humiliating him and declaring that she no longer loved him. Their relationship was a twisted love affair. Julien had meticulously planned to seduce this girl, but in the process, he found himself deeply troubled by the emotional conflict. Unable to bear it, he confided in a seasoned romantic, Prince Korasoff, a Russian prince. The prince advised Julien to pursue another woman, suggesting that this might provoke an unusual reaction from Mathilde.

The first woman who came to mind was one he often saw at social gatherings: 29:03

Madame de Fervaques, the Marshal’s widow. She was a stunning foreign woman who had been widowed just one year after marrying the Marshal, but she held an impressive title. It seemed she had no other hobbies or ambitions, simply wanting people to forget her origins as the daughter of an industrialist.

Julien saw her as the perfect target for executing Prince Korasoff’s plan, it would surely make Mathilde, the marquis’s daughter, extremely jealous. But how could he go about seducing the Marshal’s widow? Writing love letters seemed like the best method. But since Julien had no genuine feelings for her, how could he compose such letters? Prince Korasoff, the seasoned strategist, offered a solution: 29:26

“Who says you need to invent anything? I have a briefcase with six volumes of love letter templates, suitable for all kinds of women, even the most refined.” In this scene, Stendhal ruthlessly satirizes the aristocracy. Despite their excellent education, boundless wealth, and abundant resources, they lack genuine emotion. Even their love letters are stored in a briefcase, ready to be used like a formula. Julien found this method absolutely perfect and began his pursuit of Madame de Fervaques, the Marshal’s widow. She was moved by his eloquent letters, so much so that she responded to him. As the romance between the Marshal’s widow and Julien grew more intimate, Mathilde could no longer endure it. Consumed by jealousy, she broke down. She knelt at Julien’s feet and said, “You can despise me if you want, but you must love me. I cannot live without your love.” After saying this, she fainted. Julien’s vanity was immensely satisfied; he had finally and completely conquered the marquis’s daughter. But at that moment, Mathilde had not yet decided whether she wanted to publicly declare her relationship with Julien. She clearly felt that marrying Julien would be beneath her, a disgraceful lowering of her status. Yet, under the influence of that romantic passion, she also believed that loving Julien was a defiant, almost heroic act, worth doing despite the scandal it would cause. This inner conflict kept pulling her in different directions, making their relationship a complex dance of push and pull, filled with tension and power struggles. Soon after, a decisive moment arrived—Mathilde became pregnant. The secret was out, and the marquis was furious. But what could he do? His daughter was pregnant and insisted on marrying Julien. The marquis had no choice but to relent, first by annulling Mathilde’s previous engagement. Next, he needed to elevate Julien’s social standing to prevent others from mocking Julien’s lowly origins. This was crucial for the marquis to save face.

Under the marquis’s meticulous arrangements, Julien was granted land and a noble title. He was even enlisted in the army and made a lieutenant. Julien had finally achieved his triple leap in life: 32:02

from a poor carpenter’s son to the mayor’s household tutor, and now he had risen to become a nobleman. Julien’s ambition was on the verge of being realized, but fate had already planted the seeds of his downfall, waiting to strike like an assassin.

One day, the Marquis de la Mole received a letter from none other than Madame de Rênal. In the letter, she detailed Julien’s affair with her, a married woman, and wrote the following: 32:44

“This man is both poor and greedy, deceitful to the core, preying on vulnerable and unfortunate women to secure a position and become somebody of importance. Though it pains me to say, I must add that I believe Julien has no true regard for religion. He appears elegant and charming, hiding behind the words of novels, but his true aim is to control the household and their wealth, leaving disaster and lifelong regret for others.” This letter was, of course, truthful, and it filled the Marquis with rage. In an instant, Julien’s meteoric rise from a poor carpenter’s son to a member of the aristocracy was reduced to a mere illusion. It shows that when you rely on others for what you have, everything can be taken away from you the moment they decide not to give it anymore. But Julien, at this point, did not see this as a consequence of his own flaws. He did not recognize it as a crack in the foundation he had built upon deceit and ambition. Blinded by his desires, he only saw that his future, his noble destiny, was being destroyed by someone else. Consumed with fury, he immediately leapt into a carriage, rushed to a gun shop to buy a pistol, and then stormed into the church where Madame de Rênal was and shot her twice. The result of this impulsive act was that Julien was imprisoned. While imprisoned, Julien began to reflect on the meaning of his life. He realized how short life was and, at such a young age, he had already experienced great highs and lows. Finally, he returned to his true self, questioning his original aspirations. Where did Julien’s journey begin? Young Julien simply did not want to end up like his father and brothers, struggling to make a living through physical labor. He wanted to study hard and change his fate. This was a noble goal, and he was so diligent and intelligent. But the intoxicating allure of high society led him astray. He always wanted more, desiring things beyond his means, and he naively believed he could achieve a grand reversal of fortune through shortcuts. He sought shortcuts, believing that charm and manipulation could replace hard work and integrity. This led him to compromise his values and engage in increasingly reckless behavior. The further he climbed, the more disconnected he became from his original ideals, and the more he fell victim to the very desires that drove him. In the end, it was not his humble origins or even his initial ambitions that doomed him. His downfall was not the result of a single act but the culmination of a long series of choices that slowly eroded his character and integrity. As we reflect on Julien’s story, it’s a powerful illustration that true success is not measured by the heights we reach but by the path we take to get there. Ambition can be a powerful motivator, but when it becomes all-consuming, it can destroy the very things we cherish most, leaving us with nothing but regret and ruin. While imprisoned, Julien no longer cared about others’ opinions of him. He wrote a letter to Mathilde, This letter is complex, and it can be seen as Julien’s final confession. Was there any remorse in it? After sending the letter, Julien gained some clarity. For the first time, he felt truly unfortunate. His ambition had driven him relentlessly into new worlds, into the very heart of the storm, making him mistakenly believe he could conquer the world. But now, faced with the phrase “My life is over,” he realized that everything had turned into an illusion. At this moment, Julien concluded that death itself was not frightening. Yet, just then, Julien received unexpected news—Madame de Rênal, the woman he had shot, was not dead. She had recovered and, without hesitation, rushed to the prison to visit him. She even bribed the jailers so that Julien would not suffer physical punishment. From this, we can see that Madame de Rênal still harbored deep feelings for Julien. Her letter, which had exposed Julien’s affair, had been written out of jealousy and pain. Meanwhile, Mathilde, who had been seduced and used by Julien, was also tirelessly working to secure his release, pleading with judges to be lenient in their verdict. Julien’s fate suddenly took a turn; he was no longer certain to be sentenced to death. Was this good news? Let’s examine Julien’s conduct in court. During his trial, Julien could have followed Mathilde’s plan and carefully orchestrated strategy to survive, but he chose not to. This was Julien’s final act of defiance—his way of finding redemption.

Why did Julien seek death so resolutely? Here, we must discuss a detail from the novel: 37:47

after Julien was imprisoned, Madame de Rênal managed to visit him using various means. She told Julien that she had not written the letter willingly; she had been forced to. The humiliated aristocrats believed that Julien had to die. How could someone like him, a mere commoner, enjoy a good life? How could he mingle with and become one of them? He had to pay a price, and it had to be a severe one. When Madame de Rênal revealed the truth, the two of them forgave one another, and reconciled. At that moment, Julien cast aside all external constraints and saw his true feelings. He knew he truly loved Madame de Rênal. In his final days, though he appeared to the outside world as a condemned man, full of anxiety, suffering, and pain, Julien felt it was the most serene and beautiful time of his life. He and Madame de Rênal were truly in love. It was only at this point that Julien realized how vile and terrifying his ambition had been. Had it not been for his uncontrollable ambition and ever-expanding desires, perhaps Julien and Madame de Rênal would have been happily together, not in a cold, damp prison cell, but in a free and beautiful place. In the end, Julien’s choice to face death on his own terms, rather than live a compromised existence, was his final act of defiance and redemption. He realized that, after all his ambitions and schemes, the only real and pure thing in his life was his love for Madame de Rênal. But why, even after experiencing such profound love and genuine connection, would Julien still choose death? Here’s how I see it. When Julien decided to die, it signified his complete rejection of his inner hypocrisy, greed, and ambition. He wanted to erase everything from his past. Julien refused to accept a pardon because, in his eyes, it was the aristocracy’s condescension and a favor begged by Mathilde. He did not want to be the man who survived on their mercy. He did not want to cling to life that was spared as a charity. This was Julien’s final act of dignity, the last shred of honor left to the carpenter’s son. Through what was almost an act of self-destruction, he wanted to bring his life to a definitive close. This once-idealistic young man decided to end his life as a way to atone for his mistakes, paying the ultimate price for his vanity and impulsiveness. After Julien’s death, Mathilde bought his severed head and buried him herself. And what of Madame de Rênal? On the third day after Julien’s execution, she, too, passed away, holding her child in her arms. In *The Red and the Black*ambition is not inherently a sin. The pursuit of one’s dreams and the effort to change one’s destiny should not be dismissed. Julien has qualities that move us—his youthful vitality, his dedication, and his undeniable work ethic. But he also carries a heavy and dark side. We must always remember why we set out in the first place, no matter how far we go. Vanity is hard to label as a sin, yet every sin can be seen as a means to satisfy one’s vanity. Life is full of crossroads. When faced with choices, the path we choose is ultimately our own decision.