The Red And The Black by Stendhal, a 19th-century French writer, is a long psychological novel, recording a poor handsome gifted young provincial’s attempts to rise into the high society of Paris with a combination of talent and hard work, deception and hypocrisy -- yet he finally allows his passions to betray him.
The life of the main character, Julien Sohill, reflects poor young people’s experience and destiny at that time. Julien is talented, enthusiastic, determined but selfish and mistrustful. He is looked down upon because of his family background and decides to rely on individual talent to make his own success like Napoleon.
Then his amazing reciting ability leads to an opportunity for him to teach in the home of the mayor. In that period, he has a love affair with his mistress, Mrs. Dee Rena. Later his life further strengthens his climbing ambitions and hypocritical style. As he is getting close to the "brightness", he completely ruins his future by shooting Mrs. Dee Rena.
…… …… 余下全文