The Red and the Black · Chapter
A Storm explained
Julien, now a lieutenant and known as M.
What happens
Julien, now a lieutenant and known as M. de la Vernaye, is consumed by ambition after receiving money and recognition from the Marquis de la Mole. He is suddenly summoned by Mathilde, who reveals that her father has discovered the truth about Julien's past through a damning letter from Madame de Rênal. The Marquis forbids the marriage and offers Julien money to leave. Julien, devastated, rushes to Verrières, buys pistols, and shoots Madame de Rênal during Mass.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Its Cost
Julien's relentless ambition leads to his downfall; his intoxication with success is shattered by the revelation of the letter, showing the price of his social climbing.
Hypocrisy and Social Mobility
Madame de Rênal's letter, written under the guise of religious duty, exposes Julien's perceived hypocrisy and the moral compromises inherent in his rise.
Class and Aristocratic Prejudice
The Marquis de la Mole's refusal to accept Julien as a son-in-law, despite his new identity, underscores the rigid class barriers of the era.
Love as Power Struggle
Mathilde's desperate love and Julien's cold reaction reveal the power dynamics in their relationship, culminating in the violent act against Madame de Rênal.
Characters to notice
- Julien Sorel
Now a lieutenant and M. de la Vernaye, he is intoxicated with ambition but is shattered by Mathilde's letter and Madame de Rênal's betrayal, leading him to attempt murder.
- Mathilde de la Mole
Desperate and in love, she rushes to Julien with her father's letter, revealing the crisis and her unwavering commitment.
- Madame de Rênal
Her tear-stained letter to the Marquis denounces Julien, triggering the catastrophe; she is shot by Julien during Mass.
- Marquis de la Mole
Enraged by the letter, he forbids the marriage and offers Julien an income to leave, showing his aristocratic pride and protectiveness.
- Abbé Pirard
Delivers the Marquis's gift of twenty thousand francs and advises Julien on his new identity, while disapproving of his worldly vanity.
- Curé Chélan
Julien sends him five hundred francs to distribute to the poor, a gesture reflecting his newfound wealth and lingering connection to his past.
Key passages
“My God, give me mediocrity.— Mirabeau .”
Julien prays for an ordinary life, a stark contrast to his previous ambitions.
The epigraph sets the tone for the chapter's tragic turn.
“All is lost. My father, fearing my tears, left Thursday night. Nobody knows where for? But here is his letter: read it.”
Mathilde tells Julien that her father has fled and shows him the letter that reveals the disaster.
Mathilde's urgency conveys the gravity of the situation.
“I could forgive everything except the plan of seducing you because you are rich. That, unhappy girl, is the awful truth.”
The Marquis writes that he cannot forgive Julien's alleged scheme to seduce Mathilde for her money.
The Marquis's letter reveals his prejudice and the accusation that destroys Julien's prospects.
“It is part of my painful duty to add that I am obliged to believe that M. Julien has no religious principles.”
Madame de Rênal's letter claims that Julien lacks any religious faith.
This accusation, written by the woman he loved, is the final blow to Julien's reputation.
“Julien was intoxicated with ambition, and not with vanity.”
Julien's drive was for power and status, not mere show.
This insight into Julien's character explains his reaction to the catastrophe.
