Sorel is torn between his sincere belief in French Revolution ideals and his pragmatic pursuit of power and social advancement. He resorts to hypocrisy and manipulation to achieve his goals, leading to an internal conflict that runs throughout the novel, raising questions about the price of ambition and limits of personal integrity.

Sorel's life is shaped by two significant love affairs - one with the married Madame de Rênal, the other with young noble Mathilde de La Mole. Both relationships are marked by social conventions and power imbalances, confronting Sorel with the limits of his own identity and societal constraints.

Stendhal paints a critical picture of French society after the Napoleonic era, denouncing hypocrisy, superficiality, and rigid class distinctions that influence Sorel's opportunities and decisions. Characters from aristocracy and clergy embody the injustice and corruption of the system.