How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Elisa, Madame de Rênal's chambermaid, had had no trouble falling in love with the young tutor; she spoke of him, often, to her mistress. (1.7.4)
Julien Sorel is a bit of a local heartthrob. Unfortunately, his lack of interest in the servant Elisa is what eventually makes this girl tell half the town that he's having an affair with Madame de Rênal. Whenever love is in the air, jealousy is usually close by.
Quote #2
At sixteen, Madame de Rênal, rich heiress of a devoted aunt, was married to a well-bred gentleman, having neither experienced nor witnessed, at any time in her life, anything that resembled in the slightest the word of love. (1.7.59)
Madame de Rênal has always done what society expects of her without ever wondering too much about what she wants. It's not until she's married with kids that she starts to wonder what love really is. The arrival of Julien Sorel into her life is definitely going to keep her curious, too.
Quote #3
Made more skillful by love, she explained her reddened face by a frightful headache. (1.8.24)
In other words, having an affair has made Madame de Rênal a much better liar than she used to be. She has been sneaking around behind her husband's back, so it's much easier now for her to lie to his face whenever she needs to disguise her feelings.
Quote #4
Happiness flooded across his heart: it was not that he loved Madame de Rênal, but the horrible torture was over. (1.9.10)
The narrator clearly tells us that Julien isn't in love with Madame de Rênal (yet). But if that's the case, then why is he going to such lengths to seduce her? Well the truth is that the guy wants to be a great man, and he thinks that seducing the women he meets in his life's journey is how he's supposed to play the part.
Quote #5
What strange effects marriage has, in the form practiced by the nineteenth century! The boredom of married life certainly kills love, if love has preceded marriage. (1.23.68)
Stendhal is a bit skeptical when it comes to the institution of marriage. For him, the boring routine of marriage totally kills love. And that's assuming that two people loved each other before they got married. During his time, there was never a guarantee of this, either.
Quote #6
"I'm in love, I'm in love, I am, I am! A young girl at my age, beautiful, spirited, where could I find such emotion, except in love?" (2.11.14)
Mathilde de La Mole has a lot of strong feelings around Julien, but it takes her a while to figure out what they are. At first, it just seems like she's offended that Julien ignores her all the time. She eventually has no choice but to conclude that she's in love with him, which goes to show how hard it can be to recognize love when you're not familiar with the feeling.
Quote #7
He had performed, without much difficulty, what seemed to him his duty; it would never have occurred to him that he was in love with Mademoiselle de La Mole. (2.17.24)
Once again, Julien Sorel seduces a woman because he thinks that's what he's supposed to do. The narrator suggests that he's actually in love with Mathilde, but he has trouble recognizing it because he's so self-involved.
Quote #8
He knew very well that, at eight the next morning, Mathilde would be at the library; he did not come until nine, burning with love, but his head in charge of his heart. (2.31.3)
Things have changed for Julien Sorel. He didn't realize it at first, but he's totally in love with Mathilde de La Mole. Sadly, this comes around the same time that Mathilde decides she no longer likes him.
Quote #9
"Believe me, I've always loved you, I've never loved anyone else." (2.43.16)
On death row, Julien professes his true, undying love to Madame de Rênal. He insists that his marriage to Mathilde was all just a sham and that he has never loved anyone but Madame. We know that this isn't true, but Julien seems to have a short memory when it comes to whom he loves at any given time.
Quote #10
Julien's mad love was beyond anything words can express. (2.45.6)
Julien won't be around much longer. He's scheduled to be beheaded, and like the romantic hero he wants to be, he totally falls in love with Madame de Rênal only when it's too late for them to be together. Oh well, maybe in the next life.