The Red and the Black · Chapter
Chapter XVIII. A King At Verrières explained
The chapter describes the elaborate preparations for the King of ——'s visit to Verrières, including the organization of a guard of honour and a religious ceremony at Bray-le-Haut.
What happens
The chapter describes the elaborate preparations for the King of ——'s visit to Verrières, including the organization of a guard of honour and a religious ceremony at Bray-le-Haut. Julien is appointed as a sub-deacon to accompany the abbé Chélan, and he is given a horse by M. Valenod. During the ceremony, Julien is deeply impressed by the young bishop of Agde, who practices his benedictions and worries about his mitre. Julien observes the king and the Marquis de la Mole, and reflects on the power of ecclesiastical ambition and the refinement of high society.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Its Cost
Julien's ambition is reawakened by the young bishop's success, leading him to contemplate the material benefits of ecclesiastical office.
Class and Aristocratic Prejudice
The townspeople's shock at seeing Julien, a carpenter's son, in the guard of honour highlights the rigid class distinctions.
Religion as Institution
The chapter depicts the church as a hierarchical institution where political maneuvering and personal vanity are as important as piety.
Provincial vs. Parisian Society
Julien contrasts the refined politeness of the bishop with the manners of M. de Rênal, noting the superiority of higher social circles.
Characters to notice
- Julien Sorel
Serves as sub-deacon to the abbé Chélan, carries the bishop's mitre, and is awed by the bishop's youth and the ceremony.
- Curé Chélan
Invited to the ceremony despite the new curé's opposition; accompanies the bishop and carries a pole of the canopy.
- M. de Rênal
Organizes the guard of honour and the religious ceremony, and negotiates with the abbé Maslon to include Chélan.
- M. Valenod
Lends one of his horses to Julien for the guard of honour, despite hating him.
- Marquis de la Mole
Accompanies the king and is noted for his haughty demeanor; he had procured a bishopric for his nephew.
- M. Maslon
The new curé who initially opposes Chélan's presence but eventually writes a honeyed letter of invitation.
- Madame de Rênal
Arranges for Julien's uniform to be made in Besançon to surprise him and the town.
Key passages
“The higher you lift yourself towards the first rank of society, the more charming manners you find.”
As you rise in social status, you encounter more refined and polished behavior.
Julien reflects on the correlation between social rank and elegance of manners.
“A day like this undoes the work of a hundred numbers of the Jacobin papers.”
Such a grand ceremony can counteract the influence of many radical publications.
The narrator comments on the political impact of royal and religious spectacles.