Clavis Libri
Plans Sign in

The Red and the Black · Book II · Chapter 9

The ball

AmbitionSocial ClassPolitics

Chapter summary

Mathilde de La Mole hears Julien Sorel tell Altamira "Yes, Danton was the real man!" and begins to follow the conversation of the two. Altamira recounts that the ambassador Araceli requested his extradition, that Araceli's Golden Fleece had cost the lives of thirty drowned liberals, and that his own sister danced on hearing of Marshal Ney's execution. Julien replies that whoever wants the end wants the means, and Altamira gives him the diagnosis of a society that punishes thought. On the way back, Julien spends the night reading the history of the Revolution and, the next day in the library, an indiscreet question from Mathilde about what absorbs him leads him to ask her, fiercely, whether the man who wants to expel ignorance and crime from the earth should pass like the storm; she is frightened and leaves.

Analysis

Mathilde begins to follow Julien's conversation with Altamira because the evening bores her and what she hears is not salon chatter, though she soon forgets the "Danton was the real man." Julien speaks with Altamira as one who suffers in the flesh, and her surprise comes from seeing the secretary treat what the salon forbids; her interest is in the subject and in the man who dares to say it.

Ch. IX. Mathilde observing Julien at the ball: He never refers to himself! He is not like Caylus or Croisenois. This Sorel looks a bit like my father imitating Napoleon to perfection at the ball.

Unlock with a subscription

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.

See the plansAlready subscribed? Sign in