Le Rouge et le Noir

Stendhal

Julien Sorel prefers the black of orders to the red of his arms. During his social rise, two women stand out, as if to represent the two inclinations of his character: Madame de Rênal - the dream, the aspiration to pure and simple happiness - and Mathilde de La Mole - energy, brilliant and feverish action. These Stendhalian components (a conception of life that goes beyond narrative strategy to extend to the author's existence) correspond to two stylistic facets: sobriety and the restriction of the field of vision.