# Chapter XXIX. The First Promotion explained — The Red and the Black

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

## What happens

Julien Sorel is promoted to tutor of the New and Old Testament by the abbé Pirard, who is leaving the seminary. This promotion brings Julien privileges and a reduction in hostility from his peers. The abbé Pirard departs for Paris after receiving a prestigious living, and Julien excels in his examinations, though he is later tricked by an examiner into displaying his knowledge of profane authors, which is used against him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Its Cost

Julien's promotion brings both advantages and new challenges, including envy and the need to navigate seminary politics.

### Hypocrisy and Social Mobility

The seminarists' sudden change in attitude towards Julien after his promotion highlights the hypocrisy in social climbing.

### Religion as Institution

The seminary is depicted as a place of political maneuvering and power struggles, rather than purely spiritual devotion.

## Character check-ins

### Julien Sorel

Receives his first promotion as tutor, experiences a mix of joy and reflection, and is later victimized by an examiner's trick.

### Abbé Pirard

Leaves the seminary, appoints Julien as tutor, and departs for Paris after receiving a prestigious living.

### Abbé Castanède

Shows insolence to Julien but later courts him after Julien's promotion.

### Chazel

A distinguished seminarist who makes advances to Julien after his promotion.

### Fouqué

Sends a stag and a boar to the seminary as a gift, which helps elevate Julien's status.

## Key lines

> “Do you wish for the honours of the world,” he said to them. “For all the social advantages, for the pleasure of commanding pleasures, of setting the laws at defiance, and the pleasure of being insolent with impunity to all? Or do you wish for your eternal salvation?

The abbé Pirard asks the seminarists whether they prefer worldly honors and power or eternal salvation.

_This admonition underscores the theme of religion as an institution and the choice between worldly and spiritual goals._

> “if a man has merit in your eyes, put obstacles in the way of all he desires, and of everything which he undertakes. If the merit is real, he will manage to overthrow or get round those obstacles.”

The abbé Pirard's principle is to test true merit by placing obstacles in a person's path.

_This reflects the theme of ambition and its cost, as Julien must overcome challenges to prove his worth._

> “I am a fool, sir. You are right,” said Julien modestly, realising the adroit stratagem of which he was the victim.

Julien admits his mistake after being tricked by the examiner into displaying his knowledge of profane authors.

_This moment highlights the theme of hypocrisy and social mobility, as Julien's intellectual abilities are used against him._

## Links

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