A summary of Stendhalâs novel âRed and Blackâ is useful to anyone who wants to get acquainted with the work, but does not want to spend a lot of time on it. In the retelling, the main plot events will be mentioned so that readers can have an integral picture of the work.
Start
Literary critics have been talking about Stendhalâs novel Red and Black for many years. And opinions are often controversial. Consider a summary of Stendhal's Red and Black. It is worth starting with the fact that events take place in the city of Verrier. The local mayor de Renal is a rich man. He constantly competes with another oligarch, who recently acquired a pair of beautiful horses. To compete with him further, he decides to hire a tutor. The son of carpenter Sorelj Julien, who was eighteen years old, was chosen for this post. All thanks to a good recommendation, knowledge of Latin and theology. He looks thin with thin features and large black eyes. Since childhood, he dreamed of becoming a military man, thanks his knowledge to the regimental doctor who participated in the wars of Napoleon. Due to the fact that times have changed, Julien has the only way - to become a priest, which is not like an ambitious hero.
Continuation of the tie
In a summary of Stendhal's Red and Black, it is worth noting that in the new house of a wealthy family, de Renal Julien quickly began to be respected. The knowledge of Latin and the recitation of the pages of the New Testament contributed to this, although at first the mayorâs wife didnât like to let someone unfamiliar with the children. The maid Eliza fell in love with the main character, she wanted to connect life with him, because she had an impressive legacy, but he refused. Julien wanted great fame for himself, although he skillfully concealed his secret desires. In the summer, the family moved to a family castle near the village of Vergi. Surrounded by children and a tutor, Madame de Renal realizes that she has feelings for Julien. The protagonist likes her, but he decides to conquer her only for the sake of self-affirmation and revenge on the impudent mayor who speaks inappropriately with an educated guy. So it was at first, but already on the first night spent, he simply dissolves in a beautiful woman.
New events
In Stendhalâs novel Red and Black, the happiness of the lovers lasted until the illness of the mistressâs son. In this, she saw God's punishment for betrayal and pushed away the tutor. Meanwhile, the servants are already spreading rumors about their romance, Eliza tells Valno about it, and the mayor receives an anonymous letter in the evening. Madame de Renal manages to reassure her husband, convince of innocence, but a wide variety of stories are already hovering in the city. To save Julien, the abbot Shelan, who is his mentor, insists on leaving. The guy agrees, but after three days he comes back to say goodbye to his beloved. At Bezason Seminary, the main character receives a separate cell and a scholarship thanks to a three-hour exam and his knowledge. For his talent, other students sincerely hate the guy, as the confessor, he chooses for himself the rector Pirar. He becomes attached to the student, but his position at the post is too fragile.
Continuation of a story
In Stendhalâs novel âRed and Black,â Pirard was removed from office by the Jesuits, but a friend at the court, the Marquis of La Molle, was transferred to Paris. For past merits, he is guaranteed one of the largest parishes. Julien gives his confessor all his savings, as he understands his need. Pirard remembered this event and soon replied kindly. This happened when La Molle received a comrade in a mansion and asked who he would take on the post of person in charge of correspondence. The abbot immediately recommended Julien, describing him from the best side. Before a trip to Paris, at the invitation of the Marquis, the protagonist looks into the Verriere to his beloved de Renal. He had to run away from there, because the mayor began to suspect something was amiss. In the capital of France, the central character of the story from the very beginning looks at the sights that are connected with Napoleon, and then goes to Pirard. In the evening he was already invited to a joint table at La Molla's estate.
New acquaintance
In Stendhal's The Red and the Black, the acquaintance with Mademoiselle Matilda de La Molle was at first extremely cold. Julien did not like her, and for a long time he behaved with her as discreetly as possible. For his labors for three months, the Marquis presents him with a medal. He sees the right person in him, and the award reassures the hero a little. Now the guy is more relaxed and does not consider himself constantly offended. Julien draws attention to the fact that once a year Matilda wears mourning clothes. The girl does this in honor of the ancestor of Boniface, whom Queen Margarita of Navarre herself loved . He was beheaded on Grevsky Square in Paris in 1574. He begins to conduct conversations with the Marquise, which bring him pleasure, the main character even wants her to fall in love with him. And so it happened soon, the girlâs feelings seem heroic to her, because because of their social status there can be nothing between them.
Love twists and turns
In Stendhalâs masterpiece âRed and Black,â Julien continues to be in high spirits because of his fantasies. The real triumph happened at the moment when the young marquise in a letter confessed his love to him. His pride was amused by the idea that the lady preferred the son of a carpenter, rather than the high-born de Croisenois. At the invitation to the bedroom, the guy suspected a trap and took a weapon with him, but there was only a marquise. The next day, the thought that they are lovers begins to frighten her and even make her angry. At the first conversation, Julien understood everything and because of the insulted vanity decided to end everything. Only now he has already fallen in love with Matilda, and in order to achieve her heart again, decides to follow the advice of the Russian prince Korazov. The hero begins to care for one of the secular ladies, which helped, to his surprise, with the help of jealousy, to return the love of the marquise. A change in the plot happens at the moment when the marquise is pregnant.
Denouement
To avoid shame, the Marquis of La Molle in Stendhalâs book âRed and Blackâ decides to create a decent position in society for Julien. According to his daughter, he agrees to marriage and knocks out for the young son of a carpenter the patent of lieutenant hussars in the name of Sorel. The main character is beside himself with happiness, because soon he will have a brilliant career and a son from his girlfriend. He goes to the regiment, but soon receives news from Matilda from Paris that he needs to return. Upon arrival, he learns that the Marquis of La Molle sent a letter to Madame de Renal, in order to learn more about the future husband of his daughter. When Julien saw his description, then without further ado on the mail carriage he rushed to Verrier. On the pages of the sheet the protagonist was described as a careerist, ruthless and dishonest man. In his hometown, he buys a gun, enters the church where the former lover was, and shoots her twice.
the end
At the end of Stendhalâs novel, Red and Black, Julien was imprisoned, and his victim survived the wounds. This state of affairs made him happy, and now he believes that he can safely die. In the Verriere, Matilda is trying in every possible way to use ties and money in order to save the beloved son of the carpenter. The court decision is impartial, and the commoner must be hanged. The main character does not ask for pardon, because his main fault is that he rebelled against his social status. In recent days, de Renal herself comes to prison and says that the letter was written by her confessor. Julien was incredibly happy to hear this and realized that he always loved her alone. After the execution of the verdict, Julien's head was buried by Matilda La Mollet, and Madame de Renal lived exactly three days from that moment.