The connection between doubt and contradiction

Undoubtedly, Red and Black is a fascinating work. The number of works of Stendhal studied in the West is equivalent to that of A Dream of Red Mansions studied by China. Indeed, as the foundation work of French critical realism literature, Red and Black shows the profound struggles and contradictions among French factions in the first half of the19th century. Black powder, aristocrats, big and small bourgeoisie and church people appeared one by one, and the power struggle lurking under the surface portrayed the decay and hypocrisy of the whole society at that time. In my opinion, the reason why Red and Black is so enduring is not only the political and social significance embodied in this work. I remember Teacher Randy once said that a realistic work is very different from a high-level document that records the society, and the significance of literature is more than just recording. I think it is the thought and behavior of Julian, the protagonist of Red and Black, which is full of infinite contradictions and contrasts, enough to make every reader stunned but infatuated, enough to make every researcher analyze it thousands of times.

Reading a passage from it, we can easily see that Lian is extremely delicate and sensitive. When working as a governess in the mayor's house, Julien won the attention of the de Reina family because of her excellent recitation of the Latin Covenant, and touched the heart of Mrs. de Reina with her handsome appearance and young self-esteem. Even out of a strange self-esteem and the psychology of having to prove something, he looked at her as if she were an enemy, and he was about to go forward and fight with her. ...

That's it, this weird Julian firmly grasped the reader's heart. Julian's sensitivity, delicacy and stubbornness are innate, and he also has an extraordinary memory, while his arrogance, self-esteem and admiration are endowed by the acquired environment. Julian is really self-centered. In his mind, dignity was mentioned as the supreme position. He can give up the money he can easily get because what he needs is the respect of others. But his ideal and pursuit of "self-esteem" finally led him astray.

Although Julian had democratic thoughts and heroic enthusiasm, when he was appreciated by Duke larmor, he gradually compromised with the aristocratic forces. At this point, Julian seems to only know how to inform the Duke of larmor of a political conspiracy. In his personal struggle, he experienced resistance and compromise again and again. He is witty and clever, but in many ways, we can only say that he is naive and ignorant. Compared with the people in the whole society who strive to get it, he is powerless and helpless.

In On Stendhal, Zola wrote: "He (Stendhal) stays in the abstract will. He hopes that this creature will not be included in nature, but stand aside and declare that only the soul is noble. " Zola thinks that Julien is a "machine that is completely assembled with wisdom and emotion" and a "creation created purely by thinking", and he "works hard on reasoning". Zola, who advocates naturalism, believes that Stendhal has the status of a conceptual scholar and a logical scholar in his creation, while Julien always seems to be only engaged in psychological activities and external affairs. No matter whether it is spring, summer, autumn and winter, what can shake him is always the contempt and respect of others in his imagination. Doesn't this also explain the author's portrayal of Lian's psychological insight?

In Red and Black, Julien's psychology is struggling with doubts and contradictions. His thinking about characters is a huge treasure house, inexhaustible and charming! ?

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