The action takes place in France in the 1820s. The story revolves around a young man named Julien Sorel, who was raised in a carpenter's family. Julien wants to make a name for himself. He is obsessed with Napoleon and dreams of becoming a great warrior. Thanks to his abilities and education, the young man enters society, first among the local nobility, and then becomes a member of the upper class. However, the life of the main character turns out to be very different from what he imagined in his bold fantasies...