Britannica Sources used in this answer

What does Julien Sorel learn while he is in prison?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

While in prison, Julien Sorel—the ambitious protagonist of Stendhal’s novel The Red and the Black—undergoes a significant psychological shift. He ultimately comes to realize the vanity of his worldly ambitions and the superior value of love and a rich inner life.1