Character guide

Julien Sorel

major

Also known as Julien, M. Julien, Monsieur Julien, little Sorel, M. de la Vernaye, M. de Sorel

Ambitious young peasant who becomes a tutor and later a seminarian, navigating love and society.

Madame de Rênal

major

Also known as Madame, Madame De Rênal, De Rênal, Madame Rênal

The mayor's wife, Julien's first love, whose passion for him leads to scandal and tragedy.

Mathilde de la Mole

major

Also known as Mademoiselle Mathilde, Mathilde, Mademoiselle, the sublime Mathilde, the haughty Mathilde

The marquis's proud daughter, who falls for Julien and becomes his second lover.

M. de Rênal

supporting

Also known as M. Rênal, Rênal, Monsieur de Rênal

Mayor of Verrières, Julien's first employer, and husband of Madame de Rênal.

Fouqué

supporting

Julien's loyal friend and timber merchant, who offers him a business partnership.

Abbé Pirard

supporting

Also known as M. Pirard, Pirard, the severe abbé Pirard, the stern abbé Pirard

Jansenist director of the seminary, who becomes Julien's mentor and protector.

Marquis de la Mole

supporting

Also known as M. de la Mole, M. le Marquis de la Mole, the Marquis de la Mole, M. le Marquis

Wealthy aristocrat and Mathilde's father, who employs Julien as his secretary.

M. Valenod

supporting

Also known as Valenod, M. de Valenod, M. le Valenod, the Valenod

Rival of M. de Rênal, director of the poorhouse, later a baron and Julien's enemy.

Curé Chélan

supporting

Also known as M. Chélan, M. the curé Chélan, the curé Chélan, Chélan

The old parish priest of Verrières who first recognizes Julien's intelligence and recommends him.

Old Sorel

supporting

Also known as SOREL, old Sorel, Sorel, father Sorel, Father Sorel

Julien's cunning and greedy father, a carpenter in Verrières.

Abbé de Frilair

supporting

Also known as de Frilair, M. de Frilair, Frilair, M. the abbé de Frilair

Powerful and ambitious vicar-general of Besançon, who becomes Julien's adversary.

Comte Norbert

supporting

Also known as the young count Norbert, count Norbert, Count Norbert, Norbert, The comte Norbert

The marquis's son, a young nobleman who befriends Julien in Paris.

Madame Derville

supporting

Also known as the acute Madame Derville, madame Derville, Madame

Madame de Rênal's cousin and confidante, who observes her affair with Julien.

Elisa

supporting

Also known as Mademoiselle Elisa, Mademoiselle, mademoiselle Elisa

Madame de Rênal's maid, who is in love with Julien and later becomes Valenod's mistress.

Madame de la Mole

supporting

Also known as de la Mole, madame de la Mole, Madame de La Mole

The marquis's wife, a pious and conventional aristocrat.

Madame de Fervaques

supporting

Also known as madame de Fervaques, de Fervaques, madame la Fervaques

A wealthy, pious widow in Paris, whom Julien courts to make Mathilde jealous.

Prince Korasoff

supporting

Also known as Korasoff, Prince Korasoff, prince Korasoff

A Russian friend who gives Julien cynical advice on how to win Mathilde back.

Comte Altamira

supporting

Also known as Altamira, Comte Altamira, poor Altamira, comte Altamira, Count Altamira

A liberal Italian nobleman in Paris, involved in conspiracies, who befriends Julien.

M. de Croisenois

supporting

Also known as de Croisenois, Croisenois, the Croisenois, M. Croisenois, poor Croisenois

A young marquis who is Mathilde's suitor and Julien's rival.

M. de Beauvoisis

minor

Also known as M. Charles de Beauvoisis, de Beauvoisis, The chevalier de Beauvoisis, M. de Beauvoisis

A young nobleman who fights a duel with Julien over a misunderstanding.

M. de Moirod

minor

Also known as de Moirod, Moirod

A local notable in Verrières, involved in the political intrigues.

Amanda Binet

minor

Also known as The beautiful Amanda, Amanda, Mademoiselle Amanda, Madame Amanda, Mdlle . Amanda

A beautiful café owner in Besançon, whom Julien briefly admires.

Signor Geronimo

minor

Also known as Geronimo, signor Geronimo

An Italian singer who performs at the Hôtel de la Mole.

Boniface de la Mole

minor

Also known as La Mole, Boniface de La Mole

Historical ancestor of Mathilde, whose execution she romanticizes.

M. de Caylus

minor

Also known as de Caylus, Caylus, the Caylus, The Comte de Caylus, MM . de Caylus

A young nobleman in Mathilde's social circle.

M. de Luz

minor

Also known as de Luz, the de Luz

A young nobleman, one of Mathilde's suitors.

M. Descoulis

minor

Also known as Descoulis

A minor character in the aristocratic circles of Paris.

Tanbeau

minor

Also known as Little Tanbeau, the abominable little Tanbeau, the little Tanbeau, Young Tanbeau, M. Tanbeau

A young seminarist and secretary at the Hôtel de la Mole, jealous of Julien.

M. Maslon

minor

Also known as the abbé Maslon, Maslon

A priest in Verrières, allied with Valenod against Chélan.

M. Appert

minor

Also known as the M. Appert

A philanthropist who visits the poorhouse in Verrières, causing a stir.

M. de Maugiron

minor

Also known as M. Charcot de Maugiron, M. de Maugiron, de Maugiron, M. Charcot, Maugiron

A nobleman involved in the secret note conspiracy.

M. de Cholin

minor

Also known as de Cholin

A candidate in a local election, supported by the clergy.

M. de Fervaques

minor

Also known as de Fervaques

The late husband of Madame de Fervaques, mentioned in passing.

Baron de la Joumate

minor

Also known as the Baron de la Joumate

A nobleman mentioned in the context of Parisian society.

Falcoz

minor

Also known as the Bonapartist Falcoz

A Bonapartist friend of Julien's, mentioned in his circle.

Stanislas-Xavier

minor

Also known as Stanislas - Xavier, Stanislas, Little Stanislas, the little Stanislas

The young son of M. and Madame de Rênal.

Abbé Chas-Bernard

minor

Also known as Bernard, The abbé Chas, Chas - Bernard, the abbé Chas - Bernard

A priest who helps Julien in the seminary.

M. de Saint Giraud

minor

Also known as M. de St. Giraud, Monsieur de Saint Giraud, Saint Giraud, Saint - Giraud

A nobleman who visits the Hôtel de la Mole.

M. de la Vernaye

minor

Also known as M. de la Vernaye

The noble identity Julien assumes in Paris.

M. de Maistre

minor

Also known as de Maistre, My M. de Maistre

A conservative writer quoted by Julien.

Duke de Chaulnes

minor

Also known as de Chaulnes, the Duke de Chaulnes

A duke mentioned in the aristocratic circles.

Duke de Retz

minor

Also known as Duke de Retz, de Retz

A historical figure mentioned in the context of the aristocracy.

M. de Lavalette

minor

Also known as de Lavalette, madame de Lavalette

A nobleman mentioned in passing.

M. Daru

minor

Also known as Daru

A government official mentioned in the secret note affair.

M. de Rouvray

minor

Also known as de Rouvray

A nobleman mentioned in the social circle.

Comte de Thaler

minor

Also known as de Thaler

A wealthy, vulgar man mentioned in Parisian society.

M. le Comte

minor

Also known as M. le Comte

A generic count mentioned in the narrative.

Baron Bâton

minor

Also known as M. the Baron Bâton, Baron Bâton, the Baron Bâton, The Baron

A baron mentioned in the aristocratic context.

Comte Chalvet

minor

Also known as the comte Chalvet, comte Chalvet, Comte Chalvet

A count mentioned in the secret note discussion.

Duke of Fitz-Folke

minor

Also known as the Duke of Fitz - Folke, Fitz - Folke

An English duke who hosts a dinner for Korasoff and Julien.

Annibal de Coconasso

minor

Also known as Annibal de Coconasso, the said Coconasso, Annibal, this Coconasso

A historical Italian adventurer mentioned by Julien.

Signor Giovannone

minor

Also known as Signor Giovannone, Giovannone

An Italian acquaintance of Julien's in Paris.

Signor Zingarelli

minor

Also known as Signor Zingarelli, Zingarelli, the terrible Zingarelli

An Italian composer mentioned in the opera context.

Madame de Dubois

minor

Also known as Madame de Dubois, madame de Dubois, Dubois

A woman mentioned in the social circles of Paris.

Adolphe

minor

Also known as Adolphe, M. de Adolphe

A young man mentioned in the context of society.

M. Balland

minor

Also known as the honest M. Balland, poor Balland, M. Balland

A minor official in Verrières.

M. de Nerval

minor

Also known as M. de Nerval

A minister mentioned in the political intrigue.

Monsieur Castanède

minor

Also known as Monsieur Castanède, Castanède, the abbé Castanède

A priest at the seminary.

Chazel

minor

Also known as Chazel

A minor character in the seminary.

M. Gros

minor

Also known as Gros, M. Gros, monsieur Gros, Poor monsieur Gros

A bookseller in Besançon who helps Julien.

Madame Michelet

minor

Also known as madam Michelet, madame Michelet, Madame Michelet

A woman mentioned in the social context.

Mademoiselle de Sainte-Hérédité

minor

Also known as mademoiselle de Sainte - Hérédité

A young woman mentioned in the aristocratic circle.

Mademoiselle Formant

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle Formant

A young woman mentioned in the social context.

Countess Dunbowska

minor

Also known as Métilde Countess Dunbowska, Countess Dunbowska

A woman mentioned as a prototype for Madame de Rênal.

Madame Valenod

minor

Also known as Madame Valenod, Valenod

Wife of M. Valenod, who takes Elisa into her service.

Old Captain de Rênal

minor

Also known as Old Captain de Rênal

An ancestor of M. de Rênal, mentioned in the family history.

Arsène

minor

A servant in the Hôtel de la Mole.

Old servant of the Marquis

minor

An elderly servant who has served the family for years.

Doctor du Gaillard

minor

A doctor who attends to the Marquis de la Mole.

Abbé de la Mole

minor

A relative of the Marquis, a priest.

Chevalier de Beauvoisis

minor

Also known as M. the Chevalier de Beauvoisis, monsieur le Chevalier, Chevalier de Beauvoisis

The father of M. de Beauvoisis, mentioned in the duel affair.

Marquise de la Mole

minor

The mother of the Marquis, mentioned in the family history.

Duke de la Mole

minor

An ancestor of the family, mentioned in the narrative.

Queen Marguerite

minor

Historical queen, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.

Henri III

minor

Also known as Henri III

Historical king, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.

Charles IX

minor

Also known as Charles IX

Historical king, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.

Catherine de Medici

minor

Also known as Queen Catherine of Medici, Catherine de ’ Medici

Historical queen, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.

Duke de Retz

minor

Also known as Duke de Retz, de Retz

Historical figure, mentioned in the context of the aristocracy.