The Red and the Black

Entering Mathilde’s room via a ladder, Julien is still unsure what awaits him. He is armed with his pistol in case Norbert and his friends have laid a trap. In the darkness, however, he finds Mathilde. Their romance is immediately struck by “the cruel anguish of acute nervousness” (353); both search for something to speak about. Julien explains how he has made copies of her love letters and admits to having suspicions about her declarations of affection. Mathilde tries to interpret Julien’s cold awkwardness. She has the terrible realization that Julien now considers himself to be her “master” (354), which she immediately resents. Though she feels her love ebbing away, she tries to remain tender and affectionate. When they have sex, neither finds any real pleasure, as they are both too preoccupied with other thoughts. In the morning, he rides away, blaming Paris society for de-romanticizing love. Mathilde regrets this apparent mistake.

The following day, Mathilde adopts a cold attitude toward Julien. She is angry that he seemingly has power over her after their brief romance. This coldness perplexes him, prompting him to finally speak to her, only for Mathilde to treat him with disdain. They are motivated by feelings of “the most dire hatred for each other” (358), yet Julien finds himself more in love with Mathilde than ever before.