Le Rouge et le Noir

*Le Rouge et le Noir* (The Red and the Black) is a novel by Stendhal that explores the social ambitions and struggles of a young man named Julien Sorel in 19th-century France. The title symbolizes the contrast between the military (red) and the clergy or nobility (black), reflecting Julien’s aspirations to rise above his modest origins through ambition and cunning. The story examines themes of love, ambition, social class, and ambition’s often tragic consequences, highlighting the complex interplay between personal desire and societal expectations.