2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
The novel "Red and Black" is often called a harbinger of psychological realism. Its author is the French writer Marie-Henri Beyle, better known as Stendhal.
"Red and Black" Summary
The events of the novel take place in France in the 1820s. Since the novel touches on social and political issues, the summary of "Red and Black" should begin with a description of the historical background. So, the work of Stendhal tells about the reign of Charles X, who tried to restore the order that existed before 1789
Mayor of the City of Veviers Monsieur de Renal decides to hire a tutor. The old curé recommended to him Julien Sorel, the 18-year-old son of a carpenter with rare abilities. Julien is very ambitious and is ready to do anything to succeed. It is worth noting that the protagonist throughout the entire novel has a choice between a church career (the clothes of the clergy were black) and military service (the officer's uniform was red), which is why Stendhal called the novel Red and Black.
Summary tells that Mr. de Renal's wife soon realizes that she loveshis tutor. Julien also finds his mistress charming and decides to win her for the sake of self-affirmation and revenge on M. de Renal. They soon become lovers. But when Madame de Renal's son falls seriously ill, it seems to her that this is a punishment for her sin. Further, the novel "Red and Black", the summary of which omits details, tells of an anonymous letter that reveals to Mr. de Renal the truth about his wife's infidelity. But she convinces her husband that she is innocent, and Julien is forced to leave Veviers.
The main character moves to Besançon and enters the seminary. Here he makes friends with the abbe Pirard. The latter has a powerful patron, the Marquis de La Mole. The named aristocrat, through the efforts of Pirard, accepts Julien as his secretary. Further, "Red and Black", a summary of which would be incomplete without social issues, describes Julien's adaptation in Paris, and in particular in the aristocratic world. Julien turns into a real dandy. Even Matilda, the daughter of the marquis, falls in love with him. But after Matilda spends the night with Julien, she decides to end the relationship.
An acquaintance of Julien advises him to start courting someone else in order to arouse Matilda's jealousy. Thus, the proud aristocrat again falls into the arms of the protagonist. Having become pregnant, Mathilde decides to marry Julien. Upon learning of this, her father becomes furious, but still submits to his daughter. In order to somehow rectify the situation, the Marquis decides to create an appropriate position in society for the future son-in-law. But suddenly a letter appears from Madame Renal, describing Julien as a hypocritical careerist. Because of this, he is forced to leave Matilda
Further "Red and Black", the brief content of which cannot convey the entire psychologism of the named novel, tells about the events that took place in Verrieres. Julien enters the local church and shoots his former mistress. While in prison, he learns that the former lover survived. Now he understands that he can die peacefully. But Matilda does her best to help him. Despite this, Julien receives a death sentence. In prison, Madame de Renal visits him and admits that the ill-fated letter was composed by her confessor. After that, Julien realizes that he loves only her, but on the same day he is executed. Matilda buries the head of her ex-fiance with her own hands.
The fate of the protagonist of the novel "Red and Black" reflects the peculiarities of social life in France of that time. This work is a kind of encyclopedia of the Restoration era.
Recommended:
Stendhal, "Red and Black": product reviews, summary
"Red and Black" is the most famous novel by the great French author Stendhal. It went to press in 1820. This book gained great fame, both in the author's homeland and abroad, and became the forerunner of novels in the genre of psychological realism. Translated into Russian, authored by Alexey Pleshcheev, the novel first appeared in the journal Otechestvennye Zapiski in 1874
What are black and white drawings called. Black and white in painting, graphics, photography and cinema
Two colors, two opposites, black and white. They are considered from the point of view of fine arts and new types of art: photography and cinema. The advantages of black and white compared to color are considered, the philosophical meaning of each color for human perception is determined
E. Nosov, "Red Wine of Victory": summary and analysis
A lot has been written about the war. Often the feat of the state, common patriotism is sung. Another view of the Great Patriotic War is presented by Yevgeny Nosov. He examines the phenomenon from the inside, through the prism of the souls of ordinary people
Stendhal's novel "Red and Black": a summary
The novel by Stendhal's "Red and Black" is one of the masterpieces of world classics. This is a story about a commoner who wanted to achieve fame for himself, and what this led him to. The article contains a summary of the narrative
"Bathing the Red Horse". Petrov-Vodkin: description of paintings. The painting "Bathing the red horse"
A magnificent picture unfolds in front of the viewer on the canvas in a spherical perspective, bewitching with rounded lines. According to the artist, such an image of the perspective most accurately conveys the ideological pathos of the role of Man in the Universe
