红与黑英文读后感

第一篇：红与黑英文读后感

红与黑英文读后感

篇一：红与黑英文>读后感

Read the red and black 'is a time too long process, because time already gave writers and works most selfless and impartial judge, I like reading attitude to bestseller since can’t, and can’t be like that unbridled fiction was noncommittal on that.I’m in with the mind talking with that era, the key is in history outside of the inquiry and thinking

Lead me finish the book is gnaw its own great charm.The authors from a paper simple criminal case showed that time data broader social screen, turn an ordinary criminal improve to early nineteenth century French bourgeoisie social system, make the level of the research history and philosophy.Novel makes me see history books in curt inability to feel, that France and bourgeois big noble alternating the key period of ruling the condition.I learn realistic works of another kind of artistic characteristics of the world of people-1783 stendhal 'soul dialectics';This and I had from the high old man ', 'ouye ni ? lattice lang sets of Balzac in' the experience 'caused a person’s circumstances' very different.The most dazzling encyclopedia is literary history famous characters, in SuoLeiEr natural is even higher, 'civilian background, culture, as happened with the hostess governess, relationships, dew, the shot that lover, was sentenced to death' is his life’s skeleton, 'pursue' happy 'warm' and 'perseverance and class differences revolt showed almost hero’s spirit is moving flesh and blood.The author USES desalt material description and highlight the gimmick of mind tracking, it is to strengthen the impulse even in youth pursuit of 'the hero’s dream' experience, this is the social form of resistance, but also for proudlly, our lost youth rebellion.For ambition in social reality when hampering only two choices: retreats or resistance.Those small staff in advance, not all the youth is complaining life tedious withdraws person, they maybe mediocrity comfortably was social forward eliminated.Can continually establish a life goal, decided to achieve the ideal of life is and YuLianYou masculine-looking same protesters.The era of course not welcome false words as the method, but still need enthusiasm for life to oppose empty to live.So, in the end even tragic except shows 'personal rebellion won’t work' outside, the more practical significance in today’s society.Write so far, leads to the novel to a 'firsts'--made with DE pepe reina in even Mrs 'spiritual love' and to connect with DE la Moore young lady 'mind love' set each other off becomes an interest.Although the two aristocratic way of love, a very different deep, a frantic, they in these two basic points is consistent, that is: to this class of disgust, MenFa system and rebellious feudal.Remember when julien jeanvier find their love is morphing into vanity said 'I put their tools can be destroyed', after the detail is 'a proud with malicious expression between the most sincere quickly replaced the most intense love, look.' The noble from miss is always slow as the tortoise climb, like life, with a loss of dignity method.Evoked love Book two paragraphs of tragic love has always been with the progress of the upstart dominated and even inferiority in the suspect, until brought life shall be the end, love that broke the futility of primitive sparks, a illnesses.When I will put pen to write with consciousness, found that when the time already can feel with the time with a psychic reading the original compared.I’m excited to gain against mediocre revelation, moved by those although distortion and still heroic love segments.When someone mentioned 'red and black', I can proudly in response to 'I read' behind plus a 'I also YanJuan meditation of'.篇二：红与黑英文读后感

During this term, I have read a novel The Red and the Black.The novel was written by the French writer Stendhal in the 19th century.Marie·Henri Beyle, better known by his pen name Stendhal, was one of the critical realism French writers in the 19th century.The military and theatrical worlds of the First French Empire were a revelation to Beyle.Known for his acute analysis of his characters' psychology and reflection of society, he is considered one of the earliest and foremost practitioners of realism in his two novels Le Rouge et le Noir（The Red and the Black, 1830）and La Chartreuse de Parme（The Charterhouse of Parma, 1839）。Stendhal laid down for himself in a diary entry of May 1804:“regard everything I’ve read to date about man as a prediction;believe only what I have seen for myself.Joy, happiness, fame, all is upon it.” Futurity call it realism creation method.In France, Stendhal was the first litterateur to reveal corruption of the bourgeoisie through literature.The novel marks the beginning of realism.André Gide said that The Red and the Black was a novel ahead of its time, that it was a novel for readers in the twentieth century.In Stendhal’s time, prose novels included dialogue and omniscient narrator descriptions;his great contribution to literary technique was describing the psychologies（feelings, thoughts, inner monologues）of the characters, resultantly he is considered the creator of the psychological novel.The paper's opening sentence：“If your characters do not talk about politics, they are not the French in 1830.” is the famous sentence in The Red and The Black.The material of The Red and The Black is based on a realistic event that a tutor killed her hostess in 1827.When Stendhal read the story in the newspaper, he adapted it and wrote the long bildungsroman novel The Red and The Black.The work, previously titled Julien, then, changed into The Red and The Black.The Red symbolizes many things, the uniform of the Napoleon era, Mrs.Renal’s blood, revolution and contribution by the common people.The Black also stands for robes of priests, Martel’s mourning apparel and the plot of church.The subtitle, A Chronicle of the 19th Century, definitely states the time background.Thus it can be seen, Stendhal consciously wrote this political tint novel about society of Bourbon Restoration.The Red and The Black is the first critical realism novel in Europe.The Red and the Black includes two volumes.It mainly tells the story of Julien Sorel’s life in a monarchic society of fixed social class.The clue of this book is about Julien Sorel’s life experience.From the venal town to the capital Paris, the ghastly seminary to the royalist, love and religious activities to the secret political conferences, The Red and the Black describes a picture of the society under control of Charles X of France.Book I Julien Sorel is an ambitious son of a carpenter in the Verrières village, in Franche-Comté，France, who would rather read and daydream about the glory days of Napoleon's long-disbanded army.In the event, Julien Sorel becomes an acolyte.Later, the local Catholic prelate secures him a post as the tutor for the children of Monsieur de Rênal, the mayor of Verrières.He falls in love with Monsieur de Rênal’s wife;it ends badly when exposed to the village, by her chambermaid, Elisa.Then, Julien goes to a seminary in Besan?on, which he finds intellectually stifling and pervaded with social cliques.Disgusted by the Church’s political machinations, Julien recommends himself as private secretary to the diplomat Marquis de la Mole, a Roman Catholic legitimist.Book II chronicles the time leading to the July Revolution of 1830, and Julien Sorel’s Parisian life, as an employee of the de la Mole family.Despite moving among high society, the family and their friends, condescend to Julien for being an uncouth plebeian — his intellectual talents notwithstanding.In his boundlessly ambitious rise in the world, Julien perceives the materialism and hypocrisy important to the elite of Parisian society, and that the counter-revolutionary temper of the time renders it impossible for well-born men of superior intellect and esthetic sensibility to progressively participate in the public affairs of the nation with any success.Meanwhile, in the preceding months, the Marquis’s bored daughter, Mathilde de la Mole, had become

emotionally torn, between her romantic attraction to Julien, for his admirable personal and intellectual qualities, and her social repugnance at becoming sexually intimate with a lower-class man.At first, he finds her unattractive, but his interest is piqued, by her attentions and the admiration she inspires in others;twice, she seduces and rejects him, leaving him in a miasma of despair, self-doubt, and happiness.Only during his secret mission does he gain the key to winning her affections.Consequently, Mathilde sincerely falls in love with Julien, eventually revealing to him that she carries his child;yet, whilst he was on diplomatic mission in England, she became officially engaged to Monsieur de Croisenois, an amiable, rich young man, heir to a duchy.Although The Red and The Black was written in the 19th century, the novel is still of reflective value to our real world.In the modern society, we still can find out many “Juliens”。They are young and talented, but low birth.At first, they despise the unfair treatment in the society.They hate corruption of officialdom.They disdain the person who has special power and privileges.However, they always long for joining in the officialdom.The iron hand of cruel necessity broke those Juliens’ wills.Once into the officialdom, they gradually lose themselves.Finally, they even enjoy in it and try to defend themselves.In fact, they must end of failure like Julien, I think, against their wills, following the wrong mind and taking advantage of the empressement of others.Learning of Julien’s romantic liaison with Mathilde, the Marquis de la Mole is angered, but relents before her determination, and his affection for him, and bestows upon Julien an income-producing property attached to an aristocratic title, and a military commission in the army.Although ready to bless their marriage, he changes his mind upon receiving the reply to a character-reference-letter he wrote to the abbé Chénal, Julien’s previous employer in the village of Verrières;however, the reply letter, written by Madame de Rênal — at the urging of her confessor priest — warns the Marquis that Julien Sorel is a social-climbing cad who preys upon emotionally vulnerable women.On learning the Marquis’s disapproval of the marriage, Julien Sorel travels to his home village of Verrières and shoots Madame de Rênal during Mass in the village church;she survives.Despite the efforts of Mathilde, Madame de Rênal, and the priests devoted to him since his early life, Julien Sorel is determined to die — because the materialist society of Bourbon Restoration France will not accommodate a low-born man of superior intellect and aesthetic sensibility possessing neither money nor social connections.Reading between the lines, we can find that Julien is a strong-willed and cunning young man who is determined to make his way to the upper society.Julien’s mistrustfulness and his touchy pride were through his life.He reached such heights of perfection in this kind of eloquence, which has replaced the swiftness of action found under the Empire.Julien forgot his dreary role as a rebellious plebeian.When he was in the prison, he awakened and said:” The whole world and the society are hypocritical!” He yelled out:” I love truth, but where is truth? Everyone is hypocritical and trickish, including the great people!” He refused to appeal.Later, he was sent to the block and ended his life.Julien is a tragical character in this novel.He represents the young people of Petty Bourgeoisie in the Bourbon Restoration.They are young and talented, but low birth.Finally, they end of death.As the novel shown, the society under control of Charles X of France was dark.There was no middle way for them.The connection between people was only money, even between father and son.When Julien was in the prison, his father visited him.At the beginning, his father scolded him.He thought that Julien was a shame of his family.While father heard of the money Julien had, father changed his attitude at once.You had money, people respected you;without money, people looked down upon you.In that society, without money, you were nothing!Julien was the victim of cash nexus.I cannot help saying:” It is an eat-man world!” If Julien lives in the modern society, without repress and exploitation of class, I believe, he must be appreciated by others and become a successful person.Julien Sorel is practical, greedy, and cruel.In order to realize his aim and get rid of poverty, Julien took advantage of Mathilde by hook or by crook.He believed that the end justifies the means.It is true that every one should try his best to achieve what he is pursuing.But we should do it in a proper and moral way.And whatever we do, we shouldn't forget that love and honesty should remain the most cherishable elements in our life.Today we are living in a harmonious society;we should keep our purity and humanity.Fame and fortune are important, but they are not everything.Love and honesty are of more importance for a peaceful life.We should trust each other, help each other, and take care of each other.Although Julien ended of death, we still have many things to learn from him.He was low birth, but he always encouraged himself that:” I will be great!” He never gave up.When we encounter some problems, we should try to solve them instead of giving up.Plus, before Julien started a thing, he always had made a plan.Everything must be carefully planned before we act, then twice as much can be accomplished with half the effort.In a whole, success and opportunity are only given to those people who are well-prepared.I am ready at all times.Are you ready?

篇三：红与黑英文读后感

The writer writing unfolds, first is entire French society's one typical window-----small city Varriale's political pattern.The aristocrat is born German Switzerland that mayor is restores the dynasty in here highest representative, the maintenance restoration political power, prevents the bourgeoisie free party member is in power in politics regards as the inherent responsibilities.Poor collection post manager Valno the promise originally is the petty bourgeois, as a result of hires oneself the church secret organization saint can obtain the now the fat difference, thus oneself with restoration political power hitch in same place.Transcription hall Father Maslon is the spy which the church sends, all people's words and deeds all under his surveillance, the time which mutually supports in this king place and the sacrificial altar, is person which wields great power with great arrogance.hese three people constitute ' Three heads Politic ', reflected the restoration influence the aspect which you the city arrogated all powers to oneself in Varriale.But their opposite, is a large number, has the huge economic potentiality aggressive bourgeoisie free party member.Stendhal describes to the people guarantees king party member's be domineering and tyrannical, on the one hand again let the people draw such conclusion:

Grasps has the economic potentiality the bourgeoisie, also will decide in politics is the final victor.《 The Red and the Black 》 the book in circulation revolutionized in July, 1830 before, takes charge of soup reaches unexpectedly picture is understands clearly historical movement this one inevitably tends to.

第二篇：红与黑的英文读后感

In even the fate of bellaire.Cable gladne affects me.Throughout his extremely short, but is full of twists of young life, flowing turmoil with too many contradictions and complex.To this, people can make a lot of judgment--a small SiYouZhe blind pursue personal interests tragedy.An ambitious destruction;A feudal fighter sacrifice, etc.All have views, but are sensible.I think, said even a individualism in would be nice but ambitious than a the pursuit of happiness and unfortunate went wrong people more precisely.Natural this wrong not simply take a memorized the means of social morality, but from his mind deeper contradictions essence.

Even in all his life in the pursuit of happiness.Though he, but humble origins to education, and by good with outstanding wisdom, so his future in the so-called these parisians of society.What is happiness, and how to achieve happiness, is puzzling humanity for thousands of years, also puzzling our in even.In their mind, happiness and no exact standard, just in his deceit, in his vigilance, his another “battle plan” in its implementation.He is the first out of the abuse and happiness, custom for Mrs.Leonard lauder’s front perform “some responsibility” and happiness, as proud mathilde in front of your happiness, for yield fictions and happy again the hell.He desire happiness, eager to rocketing, he vowed that he would rather die a thousand times will make a meteoric rise.Therefore, he made a and a “war plan”, use all sorts of false means, he superman wisdom play incisively and vividly.But after all, he is a good young plant, so in often of happiness, he will ask yourself, deeply remorse.Therefore, his plan always loopholes, always questionable.It is found that even in this kind of happiness in the standard in society and others standard for the standard, the pursuit of others and the society admits.In essence, he didn’t get much joy and happiness, on the contrary make him in a tense state, just feel “happy to the extreme,” running in excitement, an “ambitious ecstasy” realization, just a moment’s passion, the rest is thinking about then should make a plan.These so-called happiness is only in summons, even to sacrifice the representation essence.When he thought Mrs.Leonard lauder’s letter ruined his happiness, he thought of revenge, was eventually put into prison.Instead, make him in prison released from social bondage, freedom.He unloaded all camouflage and masks a bygone, find the true self, also found the essence of happiness.He gave up the escape and appeal, can sincerely treat every friend, frankly, in death.For in the love, we also even with strong interest.Because in the successful happiness then destruction even with his love of close contact.His two lovers-Mrs.Leonard lauder’s and mathilda with short and struggle of life, so might as well to see even respectively with the two lovers in the romance.Julien jeanvier and Mrs.Leonard lauder’s love for her even began to temptation.At first, he just in the performance of the so-called “responsibility”, this is a kind of noble Lord retaliation, a vanity of satisfy.But Mrs.Leonard lauder’s the kind, honest, gentle deeply moved to even.A period of time, he fell madly in love with Mrs.Leonard lauder’s.Unfortunately this loving and soon occupied by various ambition, until finally and grubby, outbreaks.The writer writing unfolds, first is entire French society’s one typical window

-small city Varriale’s political pattern.The aristocrat is born German Switzerland that mayor is restores the dynasty in here highest representative, the maintenance restoration political power, prevents the bourgeoisie free party member is in power in politics regards as the inherent responsibilities.Poor collection post manager Valno the promise originally is the petty bourgeois, as a result of hires oneself the church secret organization saint can obtain the now the fat difference, thus oneself with restoration political power hitch in same place.Transcription hall Father Maslon is the spy which the church sends, all people’s words and deeds all under his surveillance, the time which mutually supports in this king place and the sacrificial altar, is person which wields great power with great arrogance.These three people constitute “ Three heads Politic ”, reflected the restoration influence the aspect which you the city arrogated all powers to oneself in Varriale.But their opposite, is a large number, has the huge economic potentiality aggressive bourgeoisie free party member.Stendhal describes to the people guarantees king party member’s be domineering and tyrannical, on the one hand again let the people draw such conclusion: Grasps has the economic potentiality the bourgeoisie, also will decide in politics is the final victor.《 The Red and the Black 》 the book in circulation revolutionized in July, 1830 before, takes charge of soup reaches unexpectedly picture is understands clearly historical movement this one inevitably tends to.

第三篇：红与黑读书笔记-英文

The feeling after reading The Red and the Black

Just as Napoleon said, “Every French soldier carries a marshal’s baton in his knapsack”, Julien had an ambition in his heart.He was born in a peasant family, but he believed that he didn’t belong here.His background made him feel ashamed, and he decided never to give in to the fate.He always thought that he should be proud and he always behaved so.Actually, this is the symbol of his inferiority.The more inferior he felt, the more proudly he behaved, and he just wanted to hide his inferiority complex for his background.With these thoughts, he always wanted to conquer himself to get stronger, so he always imagined lots of battles and enemies.The love with Mrs.de Renal was one of his battles.The poor Mrs.de Renal was just a sacrifice.Having been loved with Mrs.de Renal just for a few months, Julien forgot her completely and decided to marry Mathillde.Even such a proud woman as Mathilde fell to Julien’s feet.But both Mrs.de Renal and Mathilde were too innocent, even ignorant, and they were both hurt deeply for the breaking of love.Maybe you can never judge a person only by his appearance, and remember never to give your priceless love to a person who has nothing but a handsome face.Although Julien had too many sins, he deserved our sympathy, after a, he was punished and was sentenced to death.What a tragedy he was!He was always hostile to nobles and always pursued a higher social position.Didn’t he feel tired? He strived to go higher step by step, but finally he lost everything including his precious life.Everyone has his own ambition within his heart, but not everyone can achieve his goal.What decides whether you can succeed or not is not only how much you have paid, but also the way you have chosen.You can only succeed in a correct way.Julien selected an extremely wrong way to realize his goal, so he got serious punishment finally.Just remember that after burying the seed of dream in your heart, please water it with good instead of evil.

第四篇：红与黑读书笔记 英文

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The feeling after reading The Red and the Black

----------------a tragedy of an ambitious manJust as Napoleon said, “Every French soldier carries a marshal’s baton in his knapsack”, Julien had an ambition in his heart.He was born in a peasant family, but he believed that he didn’t belong here.His background made him feel ashamed, and he decided never to give in to the fate.He always thought that he should be proud and he always behaved so.Actually, this is the symbol of his inferiority.The more inferior he felt, the more proudly he behaved, and he just wanted to hide his inferiority complex for his background.With these thoughts, he always wanted to conquer himself to get stronger, so he always imagined lots of battles and enemies.The love with Mrs.de Renal was one of his battles.The poor Mrs.de Renal was just a sacrifice.Having been loved with Mrs.de Renal just for a few months, Julien forgot her completely and decided to marry Mathillde.Even such a proud woman as Mathilde fell to Julien’s feet.But both Mrs.de Renal and Mathilde were too innocent, even ignorant, and they were both hurt deeply for the breaking of love.Maybe you can never judge a person only by his appearance, and remember never to give your priceless love to a person who has nothing but a handsome face.Although Julien had too many sins, he deserved our sympathy, after a, he was punished and was sentenced to death.What a tragedy he was!He was always hostile to nobles and always pursued a higher social position.Didn’t he feel tired? He strived to go higher step by step, but finally he lost everything including his precious life.Everyone has his own ambition within his heart, but not everyone can achieve his goal.What decides whether you can succeed or not is not only how much you have paid, but also the way you have chosen.You can only succeed in a correct way.Julien selected an extremely wrong way to realize his goal, so he got serious punishment finally.Just remember that after burying the seed of dream in your heart, please water it with good instead of evil.New words:

1.peasant: a farmer who owns or rents a small piece of land.农民，小农，佃农。

2.despotism: despotism is cruel and unfair government by a ruler or rulers who have a lot of power.专制主义，专制政治，暴政。

3.landowner: a person who owns land, especially a large area of land.地主，土地所有者。

4.instruction: detailed information on how you should use sth, etc.命令，指示，教导，指导。

5.lowly: humble in feeling, behavior, or status.恭顺的，卑下的，地位

低的。

6.inherit: receive(property, rank, title, etc)by legal descent or succession.继承。

7.confess: acknowledge or admit(a fault, wrongdoing, etc)供认，坦白，勉强承认。

8.recover: regain possession or use or control of;reclaim.恢复对……的占有；收回；复原；恢复。

9.even：level, flat and smooth;(of a person’s temper, etc)aquable,calm.平的，扁平的，心平气和的。

10.heroic：（of an act, a quality, etc）of or fit for a hero.英雄的，崇高的，英勇的。

11.hay：grass that has been cut and dried for use an animal food.干草。

12.hawk: any of various diurnal birds of prey of the family.鹰。

13.sin: the breaking of divine or moral law.罪，罪孽，过失。

14.revolutionary: a radical supporter of political or social revolution.革命的，革命性的。

15.marquis: a foreign nobleman ranking between a duke and a count.侯爵。

16.bishop：a priest with a high position in branches of the Christian church who is responsible for all the churches in a city or a district.主教。

17.adultery: sex between a married person and who is not her/his husband.奸情。

18.anonymous:(used about a person)whose name is not known or made public.19.beast: an animal, especially a large one.野兽。

20.protector: a person who protects sb/sth.保护者，防御者。

21.vain:(used about a person)too proud of your own appearance, abilities, etc.爱慕虚荣的，自负的。

22.vicar: a priest of the church of England.教区牧师。

23.embassy:(the official building of)a group of officials and their heads, who represent their governments in a foreign country.大使馆，大使馆全体成员。

24.duel: a formal type of fight with guns or other weapons which was succeed in the past to decide an argument between two men.决斗。

25.learning: knowledge that you get from studying.学问，知识。

26.pope: the head of the Roman Catholic church.（天主教的）教皇。

27.nickname: an informal name that used instead of your real name, usually by your family or friends.诨名，绰号。

28.procession: a number of people, vehicles etc.that move slowly in a line, especially as part of a ceremony.（人，车等）缓慢前进的队伍或行列。

29.cathedral: a large church that is the most important one in a distinct.大教堂。

30.envious: wanting sth that sb else has.妒忌的，羡慕的。

31.duke: a man of the highest social position.公爵。

32.coach: a comfortable bus used for long journey.长途汽车。

33.conspiracy：a secret plan by a group of people to do sth bad or illegal.阴谋，共谋。

34.conservative: not liking change;traditional.保守的，守旧的，传统的。

35.heroic:(used about people or their actions)having a lot of courage.英勇的。

36.guillotine: a machine that was used in France in the past for cutting people’s heads.切纸机，断头台。

37.sneak: to go somewhere secretly trying to avoid being seen.偷偷地走，溜。

38.messenger: a person who gives a messenger to sb or who delivers messages to people as a job.送信人，信使，通信员.39.aristocratic: belonging to or typical of ARISTOCRACY.贵族的。

40.illegitimate: born to parents who are not married to each other.私生的，非婚生的。

41.jury: a group of members of the public who listen to the facts of a case in a court of law and decide whether or sb is guilty of a crime.陪审团。

42.prosecutor: a public official who charges sb with a crime and tries to show that he/she is guilty in a court of law.公诉人，检察官，原告。

43.rebellious: unwilling to obey rules or accept normal standards of behaviors, dress, etc.反叛的，叛逆的，造反的。

44.faithless: not loyal, that you can not rely on or trust.不忠诚的，不可信任的。

45.cell: a room for one or more prisoners in a prison or police station.牢房，单间牢房。

46.lawsuit: a legal argument in a court of law that and not between two people or groups and not between the police and a criminal.诉讼。

47.watch out for: 戒备，提防，密切注意。

48.start up: 突然出现，发动。

49.out of place: 在错误的位置，在不适当的位置。

50.go back to: 追溯到。

第五篇：经典《红与黑》英文介绍

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.The Red And The Black is a description of 19th century France filled with corruption and greed, after the exile of Napoleon to St.Helena.As a fine critical realism novel, the book criticizes the social realities of the time of ever-lasting pursuit for power and money and the pain when they cannot be gotten, and this is the reason why the charm of the novel will never fade.19世纪法国作家司汤达的《红与黑》是一部长篇心理小说，讲述了一个贫穷、帅气、天资过人的年轻乡巴佬试图通过他的天分、勤劳、欺骗和虚伪，跻身于巴黎上流社会，但最终他的野心背叛了他。

小说的主人公于连-索黑尔的一生反映了当时穷苦青年的经历和命运。于连聪颖、热情、坚毅，但又自私、多疑，因自己的家庭背景而被人瞧不起。他立志要像拿破仑那样靠个人才智建功立业。

后来，他惊人的背诵能力使他有机会成为市长家的家庭教师。在那段时期，他与女主人德-瑞娜夫人传出绯闻，后来他的生活进一步坚定了他向上层攀爬的野心和虚伪的作风。正当于连一步步走向“光明”时，他因枪击德-瑞娜夫人彻底断送了自己的前程。

《红与黑》是拿破仑被流放到圣赫勒拿岛后19世纪法国社会的写照，充斥着腐败和贪婪。作为一部优秀的批判现实主义小说，《红与黑》通过人们对金钱和权力的执着追求，以及追求不到的痛苦来批判那个时代的社会现实，这也是《红与黑》魅力长存的原因。