Julien Sorel and Women: Passion and Power in Stendhal’s The Red and the Black
Discover how women shape Julien Sorel’s ambitions, desires, and downfall in Stendhal’s classic novel The Red and the Black.
Disclaimer: This is just a brief reflection on the film, without any major commitments to technical or script analysis. Something I missed doing.
“You know that you are condemning me not for the crimes I committed, but because I dared, as a peasant, to try to climb the social ladder and become one of you.”
This is how we get our first glimpse of Julien Sorel (played by Gérard Philipe ), a young man awaiting his sentence while recalling the events that led him there. With some adaptations of the dialogue to modern language, the film directed by Claude Autant-Lara begins , an adaptation of the famous novel “The Red and the Black” by Stendhal .
Julien is a man who no longer wants to be poor. He is sure of his goals, but he is uncertain about how to achieve them: by becoming the lover of an influential woman or by taking up the cassock. His most striking characteristic, besides his doubts, is his inconstancy . He seems like a “bobo”, carried from one place to another by his indecisions. Julien loves possibilities more than the paths that open up. He is a dreamer, but he also gets involved in a torturous game, where he ends up using and being used by people.
Julien is not bad. He is the reflection of someone who tries, at all costs, to belong to a world that does not accept him naturally. The world seems to turn and always return to the same point: the acceptance of social classes and the difficulty of human beings in recognizing that, deep down, we are all the same. Julien is not wrong in trying to climb the social ladder, if he believes that is the right thing to do. He wants a life of luxury, and it would be insane to stop him from achieving his dreams.
However, he knows that society would never allow it. Then comes the class struggle . A man like Julien would never be accepted by others. Thus, plots and detours arise. Does he have the right to dream? Wouldn’t it be more practical to settle for a convenient life? For Julien, the answer is no. He dreams, even if it means getting lost along the way.
Women in the Plot: Manipulation and Power
The women in “The Red and the Black” play crucial roles, often proving to be more cunning and strategic than the men. Madame de Rénal , played by Danielle Darrieux , is a notable example. She expresses astonishment at the realization that she can manipulate situations and control her husband, who considers himself superior but ends up being a pawn in her hands.
Another important figure is Mathilde , a maid in the Rénal household. In theory, she would be the ideal partner for Julien, but as she herself asks, would he, with his drive for social advancement, marry a servant? This dynamic reveals the importance of female figures in the plot, who are often richer in ideas and practical solutions than the men around them.
Stendhal and Realism: An Influential Work
I haven’t read Stendhal ’s book yet , but I plan to do so soon. “ The Red and the Black” is one of the most influential works of realism , an artistic movement that is based on positivist thought and seeks to portray society in a critical and detailed way. Stendhal stated that this is “the only book that has two heroines, Madame de Rênal and Mathilde”, which makes me even more curious to explore its nuances.
Julien Sorel and the Struggle for Acceptance
Julien Sorel , the protagonist of “The Red and the Black” , is not a villain. He is the reflection of someone who seeks, at all costs, to belong to a world that does not accept him naturally. His story reflects a cycle that seems to repeat itself over time: the struggle for social acceptance and the difficulty of human beings in recognizing that, deep down, we are all the same.
Julien is not wrong in wanting to climb the social ladder. He has the right to dream of a life of luxury and comfort, and it would be insane to stop him from pursuing his goals. However, he knows that society would never accept him. This class struggle is the core of his journey, full of plots and detours. Does Julien have the right to dream? Or would it be more practical to settle for a convenient life? For him, the answer is clear: he dreams, even if it means getting lost along the way.
Women in the Plot: Manipulation and Power
The women in “The Red and the Black” play crucial roles, often proving to be more cunning and strategic than the men. Madame de Rénal , played by Danielle Darrieux , is a notable example. She expresses astonishment at the realization that she can manipulate situations and control her husband, who considers himself superior but ends up being a pawn in her hands.
Another important figure is Mathilde , a maid in the Rénal household. In theory, she would be the ideal partner for Julien, but as she herself asks, would he, with his drive for social advancement, marry a servant? This dynamic reveals the importance of female figures in the plot, who are often richer in ideas and practical solutions than the men around them.
Stendhal and Realism: An Influential Work
I haven’t read Stendhal ‘s book yet , but I plan to do so soon. “The Red and the Black” is one of the most influential works of realism , an artistic movement that is based on positivist thought and seeks to portray society in a critical and detailed way. Stendhal stated that this is “the only book that has two heroines, Madame de Rênal and Mathilde”, which makes me even more curious to explore its nuances.
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