Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 180 Julien Sorel and Lionel Sorel

(End of 4 chapters. Still asking for monthly votes!)

This class is Professor Renan's "An Overview of Nineteenth-Century French Literary Trends".

Sure enough, the course turned into a personal showcase for Sofia Ivanovna—or rather, Sofin Ivanovich—from the very beginning.

Professor Renan posed every question: about the rise and fall of Romanticism, the rise of Realism, the comparison between Hugo and Balzac, and Flaubert's principle of "objectivity"...

She almost always raised her hand immediately, or stood up to answer without waiting to be called on.

It must be acknowledged that, as a Russian noblewoman who received the highest level of French education from a young age, her foundation was extremely solid.

Her French was near perfect; she could quote extensively from classical texts with ease and was intimately familiar with the characteristics of literary movements and anecdotes about writers' lives.

Her answer was so well-structured and eloquently worded that it was almost comparable to discussions in the best salons in Paris.

"...Therefore, I believe that Mr. Hugo's *Les Misérables* relies too heavily on coincidences, which weakens the novel's artistry..."

She spoke eloquently, her gaze frequently sweeping over Lionel with obvious provocation.

Although Professor Renan was not entirely satisfied with her eagerness to answer and her somewhat showy style, he had to admit the quality of her answer itself.

With the dean's special instructions, he allowed Sophia to do as she pleased.

Many students were mesmerized by her knowledge and courage.

Louis-Alphonse practically wore the word "adoration" on his face, and he led the applause every time she answered.

Lionel, however, remained silent.

He sat quietly in his seat, focused on writing something, completely immersed in his own world, indifferent to this "academic performance".

His attitude made Sofia feel a sense of being ignored and angry.

Finally, as the course drew to a close, Professor Renan posed a rather tricky question: "We discussed the character of Julien Sorel in Stendhal's The Red and the Black."

Some see him as a symbol of the ambition and struggles of the generation of young people after Napoleon, while others criticize him as an extremely selfish schemer.

So, how do you all understand Julien's behavior in court, where he refused to beg for mercy and delivered a passionate speech?

Is this a shining moment of his humanity, or just another hypocritical performance of his individualism taken to its extreme?
Or perhaps these two interpretations themselves reveal a deeper complexity in the characters of Stendhal's writing?

This question immediately stumped a group of students.

Julien is a character full of contradictions, and his behavior in court is a condensation and outburst of his life's actions, making it extremely difficult to define simply.

Sofia's eyes lit up and she immediately stood up.

She once again demonstrated her extensive reading and quick thinking, starting with Julien's background, education, and historical context, analyzing his motivations, and citing the views of many critics.

Finally, she concluded: "...Therefore, I think it is neither pure brilliance nor complete hypocrisy."

Julien knew he could not be tolerated by that hypocritical high society, and his speech was both an accusation and a self-destructive declaration of pride.

Stendhal's greatness lies in his revelation of the complexities of human nature—a mixture of ambition and dignity, calculation and genuine emotion.

This answer was brilliant, and another round of applause rang out in the classroom. Even Professor Renan nodded slightly.

However, Sophia did not sit down, a sly smile playing on her lips: "...Of course, perhaps my understanding is still superficial."

After all, Julien also shares the surname 'Sorrel'. I think that Mr. Lionel Sorel might have a more... empathetic and uniquely profound insight into the subtle psychology of characters with the same surname in his works?

We all look forward to your guidance, Mr. Sorel.

She deliberately drew out her words, made a "please" gesture, and then sat down gracefully.

The entire audience gasped. Sofia's actions were tantamount to chewing the sugarcane and then throwing it to Lionel, only to have him squeeze out even more juice.

Most maliciously, she also linked Lionel's surname with Julien, implying that he might also have Julien-like ambitions and struggles.

A good answer would seem to confirm her point of view; a bad answer would immediately make her look foolish.

All eyes were on Lionel.

Albert was rubbing his hands anxiously, while Louis Alphonse wore a smug smile.

Professor Renan frowned. He didn't like Lionel, but he also didn't want Sophia to so brazenly humiliate a Sorbonne student.

Besides, she's a woman!
He was about to call a halt when Lionel slowly stood up.

His expression remained calm, showing no sign of anger or embarrassment.

He first gave a slight nod to Professor Renan, and then began to answer: "Ms. Sophia, thank you for providing such a wonderful opening. Your analysis of the relationship between the times is very insightful."

He first politely acknowledged her, which surprised Sophia slightly.

But then, Lionel’s tone lifted slightly: “However, I think the key to answering your last question is the subtitle of The Red and the Black—'Chronicle of 1830'.”

Sofia was taken aback; clearly, Lionel's angle of attack had surprised her once again.

Lionel continued, “Julien’s testimony in court was less a highlight of his humanity or the epitome of hypocrisy than an indictment of the ‘nineteenth century’ that had just buried Napoleonic heroism and was completely dominated by bourgeois mediocrity!”

Julien's tragedy lies in the fact that he saw through it all—he saw through the hypocrisy of the mayor of Réna and the Marquis of Mohr, and the filth represented by successful people like Valerno and Father Freire.

But his method of rebellion inevitably led him down the only path to success in this society, which was also its trap—to become like them, and then defeat them.

Leonard paused, his tone becoming serious: "It's ironic that he used a language they could understand—ambition, success, status—to deliver his final accusation."

Therefore, his statement was both a break and a defeat. Stendhal is not asking us to judge Julien as a hero or a scoundrel, but rather to examine the era that produced countless Juliens, yet was also destined to destroy them.

Julien's complexity stems from the complexity of his era. Stripping away the historical context and analyzing him solely from a moral or personal psychological perspective might miss Stendhal's deepest lament.

There was silence in the classroom.

Lionel's answer did not get bogged down in the debate about personal good and evil, but instead elevated the issue to the level of social criticism and reflection on the times, which immediately enlightened everyone's thinking.

This not only perfectly answers the question, but also subtly points out the potential limitations and superficiality of Sofia's analysis, which focuses too much on personal psychology.

He finally looked at Sofia, his tone returning to calm: "As for the coincidence of the surnames... the value of literature lies in universal humanistic concern, rather than being confined to the self-projection of a certain symbol."

If we fixate on this, we might narrow our perspective and miss the broader view outside the window. What do you say, Sophia, or, Sophie?

Sofia's face turned deathly pale instantly.

She opened her mouth, only to find that all the eloquent words she had prepared seemed light and weightless.

Professor Renan gently tapped the podium: "A very good perspective, combining personal fate with the context of the times, is the key to understanding nineteenth-century literature."

Okay, that's all for today's lesson.

The bell rang at the right time, and Professor Renan left the classroom.

Albert was the first to rush up: "Leon, the awards ceremony is this afternoon, what are you going to say?"

(Bonus chapter for 1000 votes ends. There should be another 1000 votes bonus chapter tomorrow, but will there be one the day after?)

　I've finally reached this chapter. This is the chapter I envisioned when I was designing the book and giving Lionel the surname Sorel. I thought I'd use it quite soon, but it's only today...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)