Mr. de Renal, the mayor of the French town of Verrier in the district of Franche-Comté, a smug and conceited man, informs his wife of the decision to take the governor to the house. There is no special need for a tutor, just the local rich man Mr. Valno, this vulgar screamer, always rivaling the mayor, is too proud of the new pair of Norman horses. Well, Mr. Valno now has horses, but there is no governor. Mr. de Renal has already agreed with dad Sorel that his youngest son will serve. The old curator, Mr. Shelan, recommended him the son of a carpenter as a young man of rare abilities, who has been studying theology for three years and knows Latin brilliantly. His name is Julien Sorel, he is eighteen years old; this is a short, fragile-looking youth whose face bears the stamp of a striking originality. He has irregular but subtle features, large black eyes, sparkling with fire and thought, and dark chestnut hair. Young girls glance at him with interest. Julien never went to school. Latin and history taught him a regimental doctor, a participant in Napoleonic campaigns. Dying, he bequeathed to him his love for Napoleon, the cross of the Legion of Honor and several dozen books. Since childhood, Julien dreams of becoming a military man. In the time of Napoleon for the commoner, this was the surest way to make a career and go out in people. But times have changed. Julien understands that the only way that is open to him is to become a priest. He is ambitious and proud, but he is ready to endure everything in order to make his way.
Madame de Renal does not like her husband's venture. She adores her three boys, and the idea that someone else will stand between her and the children leads her into despair. She already draws in her imagination a disgusting, rude, disheveled guy who is allowed to shout at her children and even flog them.
What is her surprise when she sees in front of her a pale, frightened boy who seems to her unusually beautiful and very unhappy. However, not even a month has passed, as everyone in the house, even Mr. de Renal, begin to respect him. Julien holds with great dignity, and his knowledge of Latin is admirable - he can read by heart any page of the New Testament.
Maid Ms. de Renal Elise falls in love with a young tutor. In a confession, she tells Abbot Shelan that she has inherited and now wants to marry Julien. Cure is sincerely happy for his favorite, but Julien resolutely rejects an enviable offer. He is ambitious and dreams of glory, he wants to conquer Paris. However, he skillfully hides it.
In the summer, the family moves to Vergie - the village where the estate and castle de Renale are located. Here, Ms. de Renal spends all days with the children and the tutor. Julien seems to her smarter, kinder, more noble than all the men around her. She begins to realize that she loves Julien. But does he love her? After all, she is ten years older than him! Julien likes Ms. de Renal. He finds her charming, he never had to see such women. But Julien is not in love at all. He wants to conquer Ms. de Renal in order to assert himself and to take revenge on this self-righteous Mr. de Renal, who allows himself to talk condescendingly and even rudely.
When Julien warns Mrs. de Renal that she will come to her bedroom at night, she answers him with the most sincere indignation. At night, leaving his room, he dies of fear, his knees give way, but when he sees Ms. de Renal, she seems to him so beautiful that all the conceited nonsense flies out of his head. Julien's tears, his despair conquer Ms. de Renal. Several days pass, and Julien with all the ardor of youth falls in love with her without memory. The lovers are happy, but unexpectedly seriously ill, the youngest son of Mrs. de Renal. And it seems to the unfortunate woman that with her love for Julien, she kills her son. She realizes what sin before God commits; she is tormented by remorse. She pushes Julien away from herself, who is shocked by the depth of her grief and despair. Fortunately, the baby is recovering.
Mr. de Renal suspects nothing, but the servants know a lot. A maid, Eliza, having met Mr. Valno on the street, tells him that her mistress has an affair with a young governor. On the same evening, Mr. de Renal receives an anonymous letter from which he learns what is happening in his house. Ms. de Renal manages to convince her husband of her innocence, but the whole city is only concerned with the history of her love affairs.
Mentor Julien Abbot Shelan believes that he should at least leave the city for at least a year - to his friend timber merchant Fouquet or to the seminary in Besancon. Julien leaves Verriere, but returns three days later to say goodbye to Ms. de Renal. He sneaks into her room, but their date is clouded - it seems to them that they are parting forever.
Julien arrives in Besancon and comes to the rector of the seminary, Abbot Pirard. He is very excited, besides the face of Pirard is so ugly that it causes horror in him. For three hours the rector examines Julien and is so amazed at his knowledge of Latin and theology that he accepts him to a seminary for a small scholarship and even gives him a separate cell. That is a great mercy. But the seminarians unanimously hate Julien: he is too talented and gives the impression of a thinking person - here they do not forgive. Julien must choose a confessor, and he chooses the abbot Pirard, not even suspecting that this action will be decisive for him. The abbot is sincerely attached to his student, but the position of Pirard in the seminary is very fragile. His enemies the Jesuits are doing everything to force him to resign. Fortunately, he has a friend and patron at court - the aristocrat from Franche-Comté, Marquis de La Molle, whose orders the abbot regularly carries out. Having learned about the persecution of Pirard, the Marquis de La Moli offers him to move to the capital and promises one of the best parishes in the vicinity of Paris. Saying goodbye to Julien, the abbot foresees that difficult times await him. But Julien is unable to think of himself. Knowing that Pirar needs money, he offers him all his savings. The pirar will not forget this.
The Marquis de La Molle, a politician and nobleman, enjoys great influence at court, he receives the abbot Pirard in his Paris mansion. In a conversation, he mentions that for several years he has been looking for an intelligent person who could deal with his correspondence. The abbot offers his pupil to this place - a man of very low origin, but energetic, intelligent, with a high soul. So in front of Julien Sorel, an unexpected perspective opens up - he can get to Paris!
After receiving the invitation of the Marquis, Julien first goes to Verriere, hoping to see Ms. de Renal. He had heard that lately she had fallen into the most frenzied piety. Despite many obstacles, he manages to get into the room of his beloved. She had never seemed so beautiful to him. However, the husband suspects something, and Julien is forced to flee.
Arriving in Paris, he first of all examines the places associated with the name of Napoleon, and only then goes to the abbot Pirard. The abbot represents Julien to the marquise, and in the evening he is already sitting at the common table. Opposite him sits a blonde blonde, unusually slender, with very beautiful, but cold eyes. Mademoiselle Matilda de La Molle clearly does not like Julien.
The new secretary assimilates quickly: after three months, the Marquis considers Julien to be quite a suitable person for himself. He works hard, silent, understanding, and gradually begins to conduct all the most complex things. He becomes a real dandy and completely masters the art of living in Paris. The Marquis de La Molle presents the Order to Julien. This reassures Julien’s pride, now he is more relaxed and does not often feel offended. But with Mademoiselle de la Molle, he is emphatically cold. This nineteen-year-old girl is very smart, she is bored in the company of her aristocratic friends - Count Quelus, Viscount de Luz and the Marquis de Croisenois claiming her hand. Once a year, Matilda mourns. Julien is told that she does this in honor of the ancestor of the family of Boniface de La Molle, the beloved of Queen Margarita of Navarre, who was beheaded on April 30, 1574 on Grevskaya Square in Paris. Legend has it that the queen demanded the executioner's head of her lover and buried her in the chapel with her own hand.
Julien sees that Matilda sincerely cares about this romantic story. Gradually, he ceases to evade conversations with Mademoiselle de La Molle. Conversations with her are so interesting that he even forgets his role as an outraged plebeian. “That would be funny,” he thinks, “if she fell in love with me.”
Matilda has long realized that she loves Julien. This love seems very heroic to her - a girl of her position loves the son of a carpenter! From the moment she realizes that she loves Julien, she ceases to be bored.
Julien himself rather excites his imagination than is passionate about love. But having received a letter from Matilda declaring his love, he cannot hide his triumph: he, a poor peasant, is loved by a noble lady, she preferred him to the aristocrat, Marquis de Croisenois! Matilda is waiting for him at her in the morning. It seems to Julien that this is a trap, that Matilda's friends want to kill him or make him a laughing stock. Armed with pistols and a dagger, he penetrates Mademoiselle de La Molle's room. Matilda is submissive and tender, but the next day she is horrified at the thought that she has become Julien's mistress. Talking with him, she barely restrains anger and irritation. Julien's vanity is offended, and they both decide that everything is over between them. But Julien feels that he has fallen madly in love with this wayward girl, that he cannot live without her. Matilda incessantly occupies his soul and imagination.
The acquaintance of Julien, the Russian prince Korazov, advises him to provoke jealousy of his beloved and begin to care for some secular beauty. The “Russian plan”, to Julien's surprise, works flawlessly, Matilda is jealous, she is in love again, and only monstrous pride prevents her from taking a step forward. One day, Julien, not thinking about the danger, puts the stairs to the window of Matilda. Seeing him, she falls into his arms.
Mademoiselle de la Molle soon tells Julien that she is pregnant and wants to marry him. Having learned about everything, the Marquis is furious. But Matilda insists, and father finally surrenders. To avoid shame, the Marquis decides to create Julien a brilliant position in society. He seeks for him the patent of a hussar lieutenant in the name of Julien Sorel de La Verne. Julien goes to his regiment. His joy is endless - he dreams of a military career and his future son.
Suddenly he receives news from Paris: Matilda asks him to return immediately. When they meet, she hands him an envelope with a letter from Madame de Renal. It turns out that her father turned to her with a request to provide some information about the former governor. The letter of Madame de Renal is monstrous. She writes about Julien as a hypocrite and careerist, capable of any meanness, if only to get into people. It is clear that Herr de La Molle will never agree to his marriage to Matilda.
Without a word, Julien leaves Matilda, gets into the mail carriage and rushes to the Verriere. There, in an armory, he buys a pistol, enters the Verrier Church, where Sunday services are held, and twice shoots Madame de Renal.
Already in prison, he learns that Madame de Renal is not killed, but only wounded. He is happy and feels that he can now die peacefully. Following Julien, Matilda arrives at Verriere. She uses all her connections, gives out money and promises in the hope of commuting.
On the day of the trial, the entire province flocks to Besancon. Julien is surprised to find that he inspires all these people with sincere pity. He wants to give up the last word, but something makes him rise. Julien does not ask the court for any mercy, because he understands that his main crime is that he, a commoner, was indignant against his miserable lot.
His fate is decided - the court imposes a death sentence on Julien. Madame de Renal arrives in jail with Julien. She says that her confessor wrote the unfortunate letter. Julien had never been so happy. He understands that Madame de Renal is the only woman he is capable of loving.
On the day of execution, he feels cheerful and courageous. Matilda de La Molle with her own hands bury the head of her lover. And three days after the death of Julien, Madame de Renal dies.
