# Elisa — The Red and the Black character guide

> Elisa in The Red and the Black by Stendhal.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mademoiselle Elisa, Mademoiselle, mademoiselle Elisa

**First appearance:** 0005-chapter-v-a-negotiation

## Snapshot

Madame de Rênal's maid, whose rejected proposal to Julien becomes the unwitting detonator of her mistress's self-discovery and the first crack in the household's calm.

## Who they are

A servant with a modest inheritance and a practical eye for marriage, she approaches the curé to press her suit with Julien and is flatly refused. Her tearful confession to Madame de Rênal, meant as a plea for help, instead delivers her mistress a flood of relief and the startling revelation of her own love. Elisa's wounded pride and later drift toward Valenod make her a quiet instrument of the novel's social and romantic machinery.

## Relationships

### [Madame de Rênal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_de_renal)

_professional_

A servant who harbors jealousy and resentment, eventually betraying her mistress's secrets.

### [Madame de Rênal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_de_renal)

_professional_

A servant who harbors jealousy and resentment, eventually betraying her mistress's secrets.

## In the story

### [Chapter VII. The Elective Affinities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-vii-the-elective-affinities)

The housemaid who falls in love with Julien and talks about him to her mistress. She is useful to Julien for washing his linen, and her attention earns him the hatred of a male servant.

### [Chapter VIII. Little Episodes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-viii-little-episodes)

Cries over Julien's rejection, confides in Madame de Rênal, and feels overworked during the Vergy stay.

### [Chapter XI. An Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xi-an-evening)

Wakes to find Madame de Rênal in distress, but fails to understand the true cause of her mistress's agitation.

### [Chapter XIX. Thinking Produces Suffering](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xix-thinking-produces-suffering)

Hates Julien and reveals the affair to M. Valenod, feeding his jealousy and resentment.

### [Chapter XXI. Dialogue With A Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xxi-dialogue-with-a-master)

Mentioned in the conversation between M. and Madame de Rênal as the servant Julien refused to marry, and who had secret visits with M. Valenod.

### [Sorrows Of An Official](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xxiii-sorrows-of-an-official)

Mentioned as the maid whose return to the household is suggested to appease Valenod.

### [Chapter XXX. An Ambitious Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xxx-an-ambitious-man)

The servant who nearly discovers Julien and later spies on Madame de Rênal.

### [Chapter LXVI. Sad Details](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-lxvi-sad-details)

Madame de Rênal's maid, sent to deliver money to the gaoler on her mistress's behalf.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/elisa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters