Review- The red and the black

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The red and the black has all the characteristics of a classic nineteenth century novel. The protagonist- Julien Sorel- is an ambitious but low born man seeking his fortune. He is self-consciously hypocritical, hiding his admiration of Napoleon because he knows that it would bring disapproval from the social superiors he must impress to advance his cause. At first, he decides on a career in the church, purely because that is the best way to become accepted in high society. Being trained in theology merely teaches Julien to be a better hypocrite, and he takes opportunities to become the servant of powerful men, firstly, in the middle class Renal family, and, later on, amongst the aristocratic De Mole household.

Julien carries out love affairs with the mistresses of both households, and although the conjoined romantic sub-plots form a large part of the book, there is little 'romantic' about them in the traditional sense. Oftentimes, Julien's actions seem driven by ennui, and his need to play an accepted part. His love of Napoleon finds expression in acting like a rakish cavalry officer.

Despite affecting to despise the aristocracy, Julien is brought into monarchist plotting when he becomes a courier for a conspiracy involving senior members of the military and aristocracy. These passages highlight the deep ambiguity in Julien's ambition, as to whether he wants to subvert the social order in the way of the revolutionaries, or merely ingratiate himself into the aristocracy deeply enough that he is accepted into it.

The red and the black is distinguished from other nineteenth century novels by its directness and cynicism, in addition to the wide canvas on which the story is drawn. It is a vast and epic story that shows up the sordid greed operating within restoration France. The satire on display is also very funny on occasion, particularly the descriptions of the politically astute clergy. Such a vivid book, painted with such bright colours both exemplifies and transcends its setting.



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