# Madame Derville — The Red and the Black character guide

> Madame Derville in The Red and the Black by Stendhal.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the acute Madame Derville, madame Derville, Madame

**First appearance:** 0009-chapter-ix-an-evening-in-the-country

## Snapshot

Madame de Rênal's sharp-eyed cousin and confidante, whose quiet scrutiny of Julien makes her the first to suspect the affair unfolding under the family roof.

## Who they are

A provincial relation whose visits to Verrières give her a front-row seat to her cousin's dangerous happiness, she reads faces and silences better than anyone in the household. Where Madame de Rênal drowns in guilt and longing, Madame Derville watches with the cold clarity of a woman who has already guessed the truth. Her presence turns private passion into something observed, and her warnings shadow the affair from its first stolen kiss.

## In the story

### [Chapter IX. An Evening In The Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-ix-an-evening-in-the-country)

Observes the tension between Julien and Madame de Rênal, noting Julien's violent temper and trying to calm him. She is astonished by his look of supreme contempt.

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

Present in the garden, listening to M. de Rênal, she remains oblivious to the silent drama between Julien and Madame de Rênal.

### [A Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xii-a-journey)

Present at breakfast, discussing Julien's departure with M. de Rênal.

### [Chapter XIII. The Open Work Stockings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xiii-the-open-work-stockings)

Observes her friend's behavior and realizes Madame de Rênal is in love with Julien, understanding the symptoms of her malady.

### [Chapter XIV. The English Scissors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xiv-the-english-scissors)

Observes Julien's behavior with suspicion, calling him a 'sly fox' and noting his silly manners.

### [Chapter XV. The Cock’S Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xv-the-cock-s-song)

Present in the garden, Julien sits next to her to avoid Madame de Rênal. She is the one who had earlier implied Julien was coarse and inexperienced.

### [Chapter XXVIII. A Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-xxviii-a-procession)

Accompanies Madame de Rênal and angrily orders Julien to leave after the fainting.

### [Chapter LXXI. The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/chapters/chapter-lxxi-the-trial)

Present in the courtroom, she faints during Julien's speech, showing her emotional reaction.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_and_the_black_br/characters/madame_derville
- 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