Chapter summary
Leaving the episcopal palace, Mathilde de La Mole sends a messenger to the Marechale de Fervaques, asking her rival to obtain from the bishop a letter in his own hand for the vicar general and to come to Besançon in person: a heroic gesture from a proud and jealous creature. Her boundless devotion, made of extravagant projects, squandered gold, and bribed jailers, wears out Julien Sorel, who feels remorse for not returning it, and Fouqué ends up finding her inconstant. Ambition dies in Julien, and the memory of Vergy and of Verrières takes its place. Mathilde, who partly guesses what is happening, becomes even more passionate and begins to think of suicide. Julien asks her to leave their son with a wet nurse in Verrières, under the watch of Madame de Rênal, and, to soften the request, he advises her to marry the Marquis de Croisenois one day. Julien stops suddenly when he thinks that Madame de Rênal will adore his son and Mathilde's fifteen years from now, when Mathilde has already forgotten him.
Analysis
Mathilde asks her rival, the Marechale de Fervaques, for help because she uses everything she can to save him, even her pride. Julien, tired of heroism, thinks of Vergy and Verrières and asks her to leave the son with a wet nurse in Verrières, under the watch of Madame de Rênal, which reveals where his affection lies. To soften the request, he advises her to marry Croisenois, and he stops himself when he thinks of what Madame de Rênal will do for the boy.
Mathilde, even as she gives up fortune and influence to save him, never stops needing an audience. Her devotion is real, but it always comes with the idea of a public and of others.
Subscription
The complete analysis of every chapter of The Red and the Black comes with a subscription, along with the explanation of each quote, the quiz, the PDF guide, and the study workbook.