# Chapter XVIII. A King At Verrières explained — The Red and the Black

> Chapter companion for The Red and the Black by Stendhal.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xviii-a-king-at-verri-res
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters