# The Red and the Black — Character guide

> Key figures in The Red and the Black by Stendhal.

- [Julien Sorel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/julien_sorel.md): Ambitious young peasant who becomes a tutor and later a seminarian, navigating love and society.
- [Madame de Rênal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_de_renal.md): The mayor's wife, Julien's first love, whose passion for him leads to scandal and tragedy.
- [Mathilde de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/mathilde_de_la_mole.md): The marquis's proud daughter, who falls for Julien and becomes his second lover.
- [M. de Rênal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_renal.md): Mayor of Verrières, Julien's first employer, and husband of Madame de Rênal.
- [Fouqué](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/fouque.md): Julien's loyal friend and timber merchant, who offers him a business partnership.
- [Abbé Pirard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/abbe_pirard.md): Jansenist director of the seminary, who becomes Julien's mentor and protector.
- [Marquis de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/marquis_de_la_mole.md): Wealthy aristocrat and Mathilde's father, who employs Julien as his secretary.
- [M. Valenod](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_valenod.md): Rival of M. de Rênal, director of the poorhouse, later a baron and Julien's enemy.
- [Curé Chélan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/cure_chelan.md): The old parish priest of Verrières who first recognizes Julien's intelligence and recommends him.
- [Old Sorel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/old_sorel.md): Julien's cunning and greedy father, a carpenter in Verrières.
- [Abbé de Frilair](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/abbe_de_frilair.md): Powerful and ambitious vicar-general of Besançon, who becomes Julien's adversary.
- [Comte Norbert](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/comte_norbert.md): The marquis's son, a young nobleman who befriends Julien in Paris.
- [Madame Derville](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_derville.md): Madame de Rênal's cousin and confidante, who observes her affair with Julien.
- [Elisa](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/elisa.md): Madame de Rênal's maid, who is in love with Julien and later becomes Valenod's mistress.
- [Madame de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_de_la_mole.md): The marquis's wife, a pious and conventional aristocrat.
- [Madame de Fervaques](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_de_fervaques.md): A wealthy, pious widow in Paris, whom Julien courts to make Mathilde jealous.
- [Prince Korasoff](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/prince_korasoff.md): A Russian friend who gives Julien cynical advice on how to win Mathilde back.
- [Comte Altamira](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/comte_altamira.md): A liberal Italian nobleman in Paris, involved in conspiracies, who befriends Julien.
- [M. de Croisenois](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_croisenois.md): A young marquis who is Mathilde's suitor and Julien's rival.
- [M. de Beauvoisis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_beauvoisis.md): A young nobleman who fights a duel with Julien over a misunderstanding.
- [M. de Moirod](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_moirod.md): A local notable in Verrières, involved in the political intrigues.
- [Amanda Binet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/amanda_binet.md): A beautiful café owner in Besançon, whom Julien briefly admires.
- [Signor Geronimo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/signor_geronimo.md): An Italian singer who performs at the Hôtel de la Mole.
- [Boniface de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/boniface_de_la_mole.md): Historical ancestor of Mathilde, whose execution she romanticizes.
- [M. de Caylus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_caylus.md): A young nobleman in Mathilde's social circle.
- [M. de Luz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_luz.md): A young nobleman, one of Mathilde's suitors.
- [M. Descoulis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_descoulis.md): A minor character in the aristocratic circles of Paris.
- [Tanbeau](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/tanbeau.md): A young seminarist and secretary at the Hôtel de la Mole, jealous of Julien.
- [M. Maslon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_maslon.md): A priest in Verrières, allied with Valenod against Chélan.
- [M. Appert](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_appert.md): A philanthropist who visits the poorhouse in Verrières, causing a stir.
- [M. de Maugiron](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_maugiron.md): A nobleman involved in the secret note conspiracy.
- [M. de Cholin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_cholin.md): A candidate in a local election, supported by the clergy.
- [M. de Fervaques](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_fervaques.md): The late husband of Madame de Fervaques, mentioned in passing.
- [Baron de la Joumate](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_joumate.md): A nobleman mentioned in the context of Parisian society.
- [Falcoz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/falcoz.md): A Bonapartist friend of Julien's, mentioned in his circle.
- [Stanislas-Xavier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/stanislas_xavier.md): The young son of M. and Madame de Rênal.
- [Abbé Chas-Bernard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/abbe_chas_bernard.md): A priest who helps Julien in the seminary.
- [M. de Saint Giraud](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_saint_giraud.md): A nobleman who visits the Hôtel de la Mole.
- [M. de la Vernaye](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_lavernaye.md): The noble identity Julien assumes in Paris.
- [Duke de Chaulnes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_chaulnes.md): A duke mentioned in the aristocratic circles.
- [Duke de Retz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_retz.md): A historical figure mentioned in the context of the aristocracy.
- [M. Daru](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_daru.md): A government official mentioned in the secret note affair.
- [M. de Rouvray](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_rouvray.md): A nobleman mentioned in the social circle.
- [Comte de Thaler](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_thaler.md): A wealthy, vulgar man mentioned in Parisian society.
- [M. le Comte](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_le_comte.md): A generic count mentioned in the narrative.
- [Baron Bâton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_baton.md): A baron mentioned in the aristocratic context.
- [Comte Chalvet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/comte_chalvet.md): A count mentioned in the secret note discussion.
- [Duke of Fitz-Folke](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_fitz_folke.md): An English duke who hosts a dinner for Korasoff and Julien.
- [Annibal de Coconasso](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_coconasso.md): A historical Italian adventurer mentioned by Julien.
- [Signor Giovannone](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_giovannone.md): An Italian acquaintance of Julien's in Paris.
- [Signor Zingarelli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_zingarelli.md): An Italian composer mentioned in the opera context.
- [Madame de Dubois](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_dubois.md): A woman mentioned in the social circles of Paris.
- [Adolphe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_adolphe.md): A young man mentioned in the context of society.
- [M. de Nerval](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_nerval.md): A minister mentioned in the political intrigue.
- [M. Gros](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_gros.md): A bookseller in Besançon who helps Julien.
- [Madame Michelet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_michelet.md): A woman mentioned in the social context.
- [Mademoiselle de Sainte-Hérédité](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_sainte_heredite.md): A young woman mentioned in the aristocratic circle.
- [Mademoiselle Formant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_formant.md): A young woman mentioned in the social context.
- [Countess Dunbowska](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_dunbowska.md): A woman mentioned as a prototype for Madame de Rênal.
- [Madame Valenod](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_valenod.md): Wife of M. Valenod, who takes Elisa into her service.
- [Old Captain de Rênal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_renal_old_captain.md): An ancestor of M. de Rênal, mentioned in the family history.
- [Old servant of the Marquis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_old_servant.md): An elderly servant who has served the family for years.
- [Doctor du Gaillard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_doctor.md): A doctor who attends to the Marquis de la Mole.
- [Chevalier de Beauvoisis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_chevalier.md): The father of M. de Beauvoisis, mentioned in the duel affair.
- [Marquise de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_marquise.md): The mother of the Marquis, mentioned in the family history.
- [Duke de la Mole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_duke.md): An ancestor of the family, mentioned in the narrative.
- [Queen Marguerite](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_queen.md): Historical queen, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.
- [Henri III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_henri.md): Historical king, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.
- [Charles IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_charles.md): Historical king, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.
- [Catherine de Medici](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_catherine.md): Historical queen, mentioned in the context of Boniface de la Mole.
- [Duke de Retz](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/m_de_la_mole_duke_retz.md): Historical figure, mentioned in the context of the aristocracy.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters