The story follows an ambitious, but impoverished young man, who seduces women of high social standing in order to improve his prospects.

A notable addition to the plot is the figure of Napoleon, which the protagonist, Julien Sorel, envisages during the main turning points of the story.

Julien leaves behind his poor and uncouth father and brothers to take a position negotiated by the Abbé Chénal as tutor to local Mayor M. de Rênal's three sons.

Julien impresses Madame de Rênal with his gentle nature and sense of fun when dealing with his young charges.

Julien is asked to illustrate his astounding power of memory by quoting passages from the Bible in Latin at a dinner hosted by the conceited M. de Rénal, who revels in showing off to various local dignitaries the latest addition to his household.

Julien relishes the role, galloping back to change into his cassock in order to be part of the religious procession for the King's visit to the local church.

The switching from the scarlet of the military uniform and the black cassock of the church indicates Julien's personal battle between truth and hypocrisy, his humble beginnings and the upper classes.

Eliza hopes to marry Julien, even though he has made no indication of returning her love, and seeks to end the adulterous affair.

Returning from the festivities, Madame de Rênal finds one of her sons has been taken seriously ill and believes that this is a punishment from God for her affair with Julien.

Grotesquely ugly, Father Pirard stands alone, for he is a man of truth and honesty, in the corrupt world of the church, which Julien witnesses for the first time.

Both men survive (albeit Julien with a superficial wound to the arm) and find the confusion of identity rather amusing and become friends.

The Marquis, however, has greater plans for his young protégé and challenges Julien to memorise a newspaper article, testing his abilities of memory.

Shortly after their affair, Julien is sent on an undercover mission by the Marquis to London, where he is to deliver a secret message to the Duke of Wellington which he has committed to memory.

The Marquis receives a letter from Madame de Rênal, who feels obliged to inform him of Julien's past, that he preys on weak and lonely women in order to build a position for himself.